Kampala, Uganda: Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Hon Norbert Mao, has signalled intentions to contest for the powerful post of Speaker of Parliament, potentially setting up a high-stakes contest with incumbent Rt Anita Annet Among ahead of the 12th Parliament.
Mao, who was recently elected to return to Parliament as Laroo–Pece Division representative, said on Tuesday that while speculation around his candidacy has intensified, he would make a final decision after consultations with the leadership of the ruling National Resistance Movement and other key political stakeholders.
“I have never been afraid to declare interest in any position. But this speakership talk did not start with me. There is simply a lot of goodwill whenever my name is mentioned in relation to that office,” Mao said while addressing journalists at the Democratic Party headquarters in Kampala.
“I have not abandoned my ambition of becoming President of Uganda. I still stand by it,” Mao said, adding that he has increasingly felt public support while interacting with citizens across the country.
According to the DP President-General, some of the voices now encouraging him to seek the Speakership are the same individuals who were once among his fiercest critics.
“Ugandans may be stubborn, but they also recognise certain qualities. There is a clear hunger in the country for a more accountable and institutionally strong Parliament,” he said.
He also pointed to comparisons being drawn between him and the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, saying many people see him as embodying continuity in institutional leadership, while acknowledging that no one can replace Oulanyah.
“That has put me in conflict with those who believe in ring-fencing positions, but I am not responsible for citizens saying Mao should be Speaker,” he said.
Mao said he qualifies for the position under the law, noting that the Speakership is open to any Member of Parliament.
“I have experience, education, leadership skills, and local and international networks, which are additional advantages. A Speaker must belong to Parliament and not to any individual or party. That is why the Speaker heads an independent arm of government,” he said.
He revealed that shortly after being declared MP-elect, several newly elected MPs contacted him urging him to contest for the post. However, Mao acknowledged the political realities of Parliament, including the numerical dominance of the NRM.
“NRM has the majority of MPs, and it is natural that those with numbers shape outcomes. That is why I am consulting, including with the NRM party leadership, and we shall talk openly. Everything we do must be in the interest of Uganda,” he said.
Mao also cited his political contribution in northern Uganda, particularly in Gulu City, where he said support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had risen sharply.
“In Gulu, support for President Museveni has shot up from about 44 per cent to more than 80 per cent. That contribution cannot be ignored when national leadership questions arise,” Mao said, describing himself as a pragmatic nationalist.
Mao’s Speakership ambitions come against the backdrop of the NRM–DP cooperation agreement signed on July 20, 2022, under which the Democratic Party committed to supporting the NRM governance agenda through to 2026.
The pact paved the way for Mao’s appointment as Justice minister, alongside the inclusion of other DP members in government, though it was fiercely contested within DP ranks.
Traditionally, the NRM’s Central Executive Committee has endorsed the sitting Speaker and Deputy Speaker for successive terms, a precedent that benefited both the current Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa. Whether that tradition will hold as the country prepares for the 12th Parliament remains an open question.
Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected by Members of Parliament during the first sitting of a new Parliament, a process presided over by the Chief Justice.
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