BY OKIDI PATRICK
ENTEBBE , UGANDA — In an interesting political twist, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) has declined to endorse candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions of the 12th Parliament.
Following a meeting at State House Entebbe, the party’s top decision-making organ threw the succession race “wide open”. It instructed all interested aspirants to formally express interest through official applications rather than relying on internal consensus or automatic endorsements.
Tanga Odoi Sets Deadline:
Addressing journalists on Friday evening, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, announced a tight, high-pressure timeline for interested candidates.
All eligible NRM Members of Parliament eyeing the Speakership and Deputy Speakership seats must formally submit their expressions of interest starting tonight, Friday, through to Saturday, May 23rd, at precisely 3:00 PM.
AAA( Anita Annet Among) Absent as Rumours Shift:
The current Speaker of Parliament and NRM National Vice Chairperson (Female), Anita Annet Among, was absent from the State House Entebbe meeting. Her absence comes amidst broadening security and financial investigations into her properties oncluding the one in Bukedea.The CEC’s decision to open up the application process has effectively reset the political landscape, neutralizing previous speculative lineups. Defense Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth, who had not officially declared interest despite heavy traction in political circles, saw his prospects shift.
Earlier social media endorsements attributed to the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, which claimed Oboth Oboth had secured President Museveni’s backing, have now been completely overtaken by CEC’s directive to keep the process transparent and open to all.
Norbert Mao likely to win with a higher margin:
Concurrently, Democratic Party (DP) President Norbert Mao remains a key wildcard in the contest. Mao has publicly indicated his interest in the Speakership and is expected to feature heavily in broader cross-party political win if NRM fails to front a strong candidate since mao has influence acroas all political parties now that the ruling NRM party is yet to officially come out with formidable candidates for tge two poaitio s reapectively.
With the 3:00 PM deadline looming tomorrow, the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters is bracing for a flurry of submissions from legislative heavyweights, including Agago County’s Hon. Barrister Edward Makmot Otto, who already issued his expression of interest to colleagues earlier this week.
Others are; Denis Namara, Lydia Wanyoto, Aguti Nyankori, Marshall Alenyo OO, Thomas Tayebwa among others.
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