The 1st sitting of the 12th parliament is underway at Kololo ceremonial grounds as legislators elect the house new speaker and the deputy.
The voting of the speaker is being presided over by the Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija who will later hand it chair to speaker who will preside over electing of the deputy.
Meanwhile, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has endorsed National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Paul Mwiru in today’s race for Speaker of Parliament, positioning the Opposition around a common candidate against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Jacob Oboth-Oboth.
Mwiru, the Jinja South East MP, is contesting against Oboth-Oboth and Democratic Party (DP) president general Norbert Mao in the Speaker election, while the deputy speaker race pits NRM’s Thomas Tayebwa against People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) legislator Asinasi Nyakato.
FDC vice president for northern Uganda Hassan Kaps Fungaroo said yesterady that the party resolved to support Mwiru because his agenda aligns with FDC’s position on constitutionalism, accountability and parliamentary independence.
Despite Opposition efforts to unite, the NRM enters the race with overwhelming numerical strength in the House.
The ruling party controls at least 372 MPs, alongside 68 independents widely viewed as leaning towards the government.
In comparison, NUP has 48 legislators, UPC 12, FDC nine, DP six, PFF two and ANT one. Mr Mwiru, who previously served in Parliament under FDC before joining NUP, has anchored his campaign on restoring Parliament’s credibility and strengthening oversight.
While unveiling his manifesto at NUP headquarters on Friday, Mwiru accused the outgoing Parliament of presiding over wasteful spending, declining accountability and erosion of public trust.
In the deputy speaker race, PFF’s Asinasi Nyakato remains the only Opposition candidate after several NRM aspirants stepped down in favour of incumbent deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
Addressing journalists yesterday, Ms Nyakato, the Hoima City Woman MP, pledged to defend Parliament’s constitutional independence.
NEW ERA AS 12TH PARLIAMENT ELECTS NEW SPEAKER AND THE DEPUTY TODAY
