Bukedea Woman MP Anita Annet Among has been elected the new Speaker of Parliament.
Among beat her opposition rival Asuman Basalirwa with 401 votes against 66 votes.
The Friday election was presided over by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo who chaired the special Parliament session to elect a new Speaker of the 11th Parliament.
A total of 433 MPs were in attendance at the Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala.
President Museveni, the NRM party chairman, handed Among the instruments of power after she was declared duly elected Speaker of the 11th Parliament, replacing the deceased Jacob Oulanyah.
Below is her Full Statement
Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
The First Lady,
Your Excellency the Vice President,
Your Lordship, the Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister
Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State
Colleagues Members of Parliament
The Clerk and Staff of Parliament
Fellow Country Men and Women
Praise be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It is with great honour and privilege that I stand before you to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to you for electing me to the Chair of Speaker of the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
With humility and respect, I would like to say; thank you, Eyalama Noi…. Eyalama noi noi
Today is a day of mixed emotions. A day when we continue to mourn our fallen leader, comrade, friend, father and brother; Rt. Hon. Jacob L’okori Oulanyah and yet the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda which, we swore to uphold, dictates that constitutional processes to legitimise the business of Parliament to go on.
I am happy that as statesmen and women we have lived up to our constitutional obligation.
The times have been challenging, especially the last few days. The grief, sorrow, and pain have taken a toll on all of us. The worries and the struggles. But we have also witnessed your courage, your resilience, and the generosity of your spirit to run the course of the Rt. Honourable Oulanyah’s vision.
Your Excellency and Honourable Members, this is a day I never imagined would happen this soon, especially because I believed that for the next five or ten years I would have a strong mentor and leader to hold my hand. Little did I know that God had a different script.
I request that we rise and observe a moment of silence in honour of our fallen leader, brother, father, mentor and friend; the Rt. Hon. Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah.
Your Excellency and Honourable Colleagues, I am humbled and indeed overjoyed by the faith and trust you have placed in me. I am greatly indebted to you for what I have become today.
The leadership of the 11th Parliament will continue to be guided by a vision to have a people centred Parliament that is anchored on evidence based debates. Honourable Colleagues, we shall base all our decisions on facts as presented to the House.
Indeed we committed that reason and sound logic shall be used in tabling our positions, this will enable us to derive correct interpretation from agreed facts. I implore everyone to be tolerant and have mutual respect.
Economy, efficiency and effectiveness shall underpin our utilization of the financial, material and human capital resources available to us.
Your Excellency and Honourable Members, the ongoing re-organization and institutional Reform of the Parliamentary Commission and the Parliamentary Service will continue until we achieve optimal performance and adequate support to the Members of Parliament. Legislative and Administrative support services must meet the needs of the Members of Parliament.
Ours shall be a Parliament where the needs of the common man take centre stage in order to achieve the social – economic transformation that the NRM manifesto strives to achieve.
Honourable Colleagues, you have been unanimous in your assessment of my leadership; I’m here, ready to serve you, but I will serve you; as we walk the journey together.
United as we have always been, let us deliver a transformed country that we all call home.
A better Uganda is good for everyone irrespective of your political affiliation. The reason we have reached out to all political parties in Parliament to work for our country. I will be a Speaker for all.
I therefore, thank my party the National Resistance Movement and all the Members of the 11th Parliament for choosing and elevating me to the position of the Speaker of the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
I trust that with the guidance of the Lord I will steer the House in a manner that will not only satisfy and inspire Ugandans but also make my party and yourselves proud of your choice and indeed, honour the legacy of my fallen mentor and brother Jacob.
It is the greatest honour of my life to accept this responsibility to serve the 11th Parliament and indeed, the Republic of Uganda as Speaker.
God Bless You
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
Anita Annet Among, MP
SPEAKER OF PPARLIAMENT
