KAMPALA, UGANDA: The NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) has endorsed Bukedea Woman MP and current Deputy Speaker Anita Among as the party flag bearer for the Speakership position.
The development was on Wednesday evening confirmed by Capt. Mike Mukula, the NRM vice chairperson for Eastern Uganda, who is also a CEC member.
“Rt Hon Anita Among approved by CEC to be the next speaker of Parliament of Uganda,” Mukula said in a Wednesday Tweet.
According to sources that attended the Wednesday CEC meeting, the NRM top organ nominated Anita Among to replace the deceased Jacob Oulanyah following a series of interviews for numerous candidates.
Among beat 11 other NRM MPs who were vying for the position, including Budama West MP and State Minister for Defense Markson Oboth Oboth and the Deputy Attorney General Rwakafuzi.
Others in the race included; Dokolo South County MP Felix Okot Ogong, Theodore Ssekikubo, Jackson Atima Lee, Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi, State Minister for Sports Hamson Obua, Alex Kintu Brandon(Kagoma North legislator), Florence Asiimwe Akiiki(Masindi district Woman MP), Okot John Amos and Pius Wakabi are the other MPs who wanted the position.
The 11th Parliamentary Speakership seat fell vacant after the death of Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah I Seattle America on Sunday, March 20th, 2022.
At the time of his death, Oulanyah had only presided over parliament business for 9 months and 24 days since his election to the position on 24th May 2021.
On Monday, Cabinet set March 25 as the date for the election of a new speaker of Parliament.
The appointment of Among to the Speakership seat by the CEC means they will have to choose for the deputy speaker to fill the position left behind by Among.
The nominees will tomorrow face the Party caucus at Kololo Ceremonial ground in preparation for the Speaker election slated for Friday, March 25th, 2022.
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