NRM’s Anita Among was today elected the new speaker of the 11th Parliament replacing the late Jacob Oulanyah.
During elections held at Kololo Independence Grounds, the outgoing deputy speaker scored 401 votes against 66 of the opposition’s Asuman Bacilluria.
Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Annet Among wrote history, becoming Uganda’s second female post-independence Parliament Speaker.
Friday’s rather calm poll recorded one invalid ballot as ruling NRM party candidate, Among, swept away with 401 votes of the lawmakers that polled.
Basalirwa obtained 66 votes in the election constitutionally falling quickly- even as the nation grieved Oulanyah’s death after a cancer battle.
Both contestants observed that the election was “democratic” and had earlier expressed ambitions of “uniting a divided 11th House and nation” in accepting nomination to stand for the position.
Speaker-elect Among emphasized in her acceptance speech that she will strive to ensure equitable debate, service delivery, a better Uganda for everyone and a speaker not for NRM but for Uganda.
While, Basalirwa told a gathering of close to 1,000 people at a special plenary sitting presided over by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo in Kampala that the process has been open, free.
Meanwhile, NRM’s Thomas Tayebwa won deputy speakership garnering 379 votes defeating opposition’s joint candidate Okot P’Bitek Moses who got 82votes.
