Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has declared his plans to contest for parliament’s top position which the Speaker when the house opens its doors in May for the 11th parliament.
The election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament is the first activity of the assembly after the administration of oaths for all persons who will be gazetted by the Electoral Commission as winners of the parliamentary elections held on January 14, 2021.
According to Ssemujju, he has been in parliament for two terms hence he is capable of leading parliament. However, he says that his decision will depend on whether the opposition come up with a candidate better than him for the position.
Ssemujju believes that he can fearlessly take on government if given opportunity to become Speaker. He is currently the Opposition Chief whip.
Similarly incumbent Rebecca Kadaga already declared her intention to retain her position as Speaker in the next parliament. Kadaga has been Speaker of Parliament for two terms. Before that she served as deputy speaker for 10 years.
Her deputy Jacob Oulanyah also declared his intentions to unseat Kadaga for the position saying that it was time for Kadaga to give way.
In the 10th parliament Oulanyah wanted to take on Kadaga but President Museveni shielded Kadaga from competition by convincing Oulanyah to once again settle for the position of Deputy Speaker for the second term.
For the position of Deputy Speaker in the next parliament, seven MPs have already expressed interest and these include; West Budama North MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth, Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among, Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko, Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa, Gomba West MP Robinah Rwakojo, Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga County MP and State Minister for Finance David Bahati.