Kira Municipality Member of Parliament and FDC party Spokesperson Hon Ibrahim Semujju Nganda has spoken out about the move by fellow opposition MPs to back the incumbent Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga for speakership race in the incoming 11th Parliament.
Semujju who doubles as the Opposition Chief Whip in parliament announced earlier this week his bid to oust Kadaga in the Speakership position of the 11th Parliament.
However, on Wednesday as Parliament discussed the ongoing campaigns for the Speakership, several MPs came out and openly declared support for the incumbent, Mrs Kadaga.
Among these, were senior MPs on the opposition including those from the new National Unity Platform (NUP).
Speaking about the matter while on NBS Frontline, Semujju said utter shock to see opposition MPs publicly declaring his support for Kadaga who is from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
He noted that MPs particularly from the National Unity Platform such as Joseph Sewungu Gonzaga of Kalungu West and Patrick Nsamba Oshabe of Kassanda North barefacedly backed Kadaga to his expense.
He said this was even more shocking considering that there are several MPs from the ruling NRM that have supported his candidature.
“The difference here is that the NRM MPs who are on my side have come out and told that that ‘we are going to support you, but only privately.’”
“But I was truly shocked to see Hon Sewungu Gonzaga and Hon Patrick Nsamba going to the microphone to declare their support for Hon Kadaga.”
Nganda also said he was disappointed by other senior opposition leaders such Hon Asuman Basalirwa, the head of Justice Forum (JEEMA) who is also backing Kadaga.
Nganda said he had in fact written to Hon Basalirwa as well as other opposition party presidents, requesting for support.
“I wrote to Hon Basalirwa and he received the letter, but in the evening he went on a microphone and announced that he was not supporting an opposition candidate but and NRM candidate.”
The offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will fall vacant with the expiry of the term for the 10th Parliament in May this year.
The race for the Speakership is currently being vied for by incumbent Hon Kadaga, her current deputy Hon Jacob Oulanyah and FDC’s Kira Municipality MP Hon. Ibrahim Semujju Nganda.
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