The race of replacing deceased former speaker Jacob Oulanyah has tightened as Thirteen National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs have confirmed their hopes of running for re-election.
These include the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi, Minister of State for Defence, Jacob Oboth Oboth, Jackson Atima Lee Buti, Arua Central MP, and Tororo Woman MP, Sarah Opendi.
Others are Dokolo South MP, Felix Okot Ogongo, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, Kagoma North MP Kintu Brandon, Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng, and Minister of State for Sports, Hamson Obua, Florence Asiimwe, the Masindi Woman MP, John Amos Okot, the Agago North MP and Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County MP.
The Speakership position fell vacant on Sunday following the death of Omoro County MP, Jacob Oulanyah who died from a hospital in Seattle USA, where he had been taken for specialized treatment last month.
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 first person to submit forms was Deputy Speaker, Anita Among through her Personal Assistant Mary Athieno. Among did not submit her application in person after Odoi told journalists that she could not come due to medical grounds.
NRM Electoral Commission boss Tang Odoi shortly after nomination said that they have banned any processions by those expressing interest in the position since the country is still mourning Oulanyah.
The applications will be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) chaired by President Yoweri Museveni who will on Wednesday discuss the candidates and make endorsements.
After this stage, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus will then sit on Thursday to endorse a candidate for the position before the election for a new Speaker on Friday.
