Jacob Oulanyah, the Omoro County Member of Parliament has vacated the office of the Deputy Speaker in Parliament, as he sets his eye on the Office of the Speaker. Oulanyah, who has served as the Deputy Speaker for two terms is now seeking to replace Rebecca Kadaga.
And as he prepares to take oath for the Parliamentary Seat on Thursday, Oulanyah says that his term of office as the Deputy Speaker has expired today, and under no circumstances will he occupy the same office in the new term.
Oulanyah arrived at Parliament in his official vehicle, a land cruiser V8 registration number UG-0402H which he handed over to the Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Speaker Robinson Kaweesa before driving out in his private vehicle a Nissan Patrol.
Oulanyah, however, hastened to add that his service as a Deputy Speaker was such a great experience.
He added that he will now wait upon the process by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive. Committee (CEC) to vet the candidates who have presented themselves to contest for the Speaker’s position, ahead of elections to be held next week.
The rivalry, between the two principals of the legislature, is traced to a bitter fight for the country’s number three position in the aftermath of the 2016 General Elections which has seen the two castigate each other, and disapprove of each other’s methods, even in the public domain.
Despite being the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Oulanyah did not chair plenary sessions for more than a year in what Kadaga described as an abdication of his official duty.
But Oulanyah said the allegation was false. His supporters who served in the 10th Parliament said Kadaga did not give him the opportunity to chair the house and that it was only when she was completely unable to chair that he was asked to chair.
Additional reporting by URN.
