By Musasizi Isaac
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has told off President Museveni , she doesn’t want to his vice president.
“I want to be speaker. A speaker is a head (of Parliament). The vice is a helper, under someone else. I don’t want that,” Kadaga said.
She was speaking Sunday at hotel Africana where she met 41 elected and incumbent Members of Parliament including some from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and JEEMA.
Many opposition legislators have expressed support for Kadaga claiming she already enjoys good support from her own party which has majority MPs in Parliament.
The opposition supporting her argue that even when they back their own, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, it will be a waste of time because he will not garner the required votes to become Speaker.
But this argument has been watered down by political observers who say that the opposition MPs who have decided to ignore Ssemujju in favor of Kadaga are looking for political favors and gains from the incumbent.
The speaker and deputy race is already congested with many contenders. Elections are expected to take place in May 27 after the swearing in of MPs. Already deputy Speaker Jacon Oulanya and Kadaga are in a bitter exchange over the position. Their party has said that the decision on who will contest will be determined by the central executive Committee (CEC).
President Museveni as NRM chair has already summoned the NRM caucus to discuss the matter.
In her speech, Kadaga said “the position of the Vice President does not wield authority and power.”
“I have heard information to persuade me to accept the position of Vice President currently occupied by Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi but ndobye, bbee ( I have refused, no),” Kadaga said.
Most of the MPs who attended the Sunday meeting said that even when Kadaga is not endorsed by the party, they will support her.
The position of Speaker ranks number three in the order of hierarchy of Uganda’s leadership. The speaker enjoys huge allowances and other benefits that include a strong well paid staff.
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