According to the laws of Uganda, a parliament can not continue with any business without the election of a new speaker of the house. This has meant that the NRM has to now vote a new speaker before former speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s body is brought to lay in state.
President Museveni has a group of senior members of parliament to choose from and we have listed some as per our projections.
HILLARY ONEK
Hilary Obaloker Onek (born 5 May 1948) is a Ugandan engineer and politician. He is the current Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.
Prior to that, Hilary Onek served as the Minister for Energy & Minerals, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. Before that, he served as Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries from 2006 to 2009. He is also the elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing Lamwo County, Lamwo District.
Onek joined parliament in 2001 therefore making him one of the most experienced legislator in the house, this plus the added advantage of being a member of the now bereaved Acholi Sub region maked him top the list of potential replacements for Oulanyah since President Museveni sees this as a chance to win back the hearts of the Acholi who still feel that death robbed them of a chance to have a speaker from their region.
Onek is also one of the most learned on this list with
- a Bachelor of science degree in Civil engineering from the People’s Friendship Universityin Moscow, Russia.
- a Master of Science(MSc) in Engineering,
- Fellowship at the Moscow Institute of Civil Engineeringin Hydropower Dams & Hydro-technical Structures
- A Postgraduate Certificate in Investment Appraisal and Management, from Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States,
- A postgraduate certificate in Public-Private Partnership in Utility Management, from the Institute For Public-Private Partnerships, in Washington, DC.
- And a degree of Master of Business Administration from Makerere University,
JACOB OBOTH OBOTH
Jacob Marksons Oboth commonly known as Jacob Oboth-Oboth is a Ugandan lawyer, intellectual property expert and politician.
He is the elected Member of Parliament for West Budama County South who is not affiliated to any political party.
Oboth-Oboth is the current chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the former chairperson of the parliamentary Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the Committee on Natural Resources. He is a serving member of the parliamentary Business Committee.
Whereas Oboth is not from Acholi, he expressed interest in the speakership way before Oulanyah’s election but was one of the candidates told to stand down for Oulanyah by the NRM central executive committee.
He is therefore expected to be among those eying the seat. Our source was however not sure where Oboth oboth lay on the list of options for president Museveni.
Oboth Oboth’s boasts great leadership credentials having served as chairperson of the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the parliamentary ad hoc committee to investigate the electricity sub sector; the Committee on Natural Resources. He is currently the chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and a member of the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges and the Business Committee.
Rebecca Kadaga
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga is a Ugandan lawyer and politician who served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda from 19 May 2011 until 21 May 2021. She currently serves as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs.
She is the first woman to be elected Speaker in the history of the Parliament of Uganda. She succeeded Edward Ssekandi, who served as Speaker from 2001 to 2011.
She is also the current Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kamuli District Women’s Constituency, Busoga sub-region, a position she has held since 1989.
Kadaga is experienced as speaker, she has been there, done that. The most experienced in this list but fell out with the NRM chairman Museveni after she stood as an independent against the NRM candidate, Oulanyah.
However, it wouldn’t be a first of surprise appointments from Museveni having just last month appointment and seconded John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, who stood against him in 2016 to a top continental job.
Kadaga has;
- a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), from Makerere university.
- A Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center.
- A Diploma in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe.
- A Master of Arts (MA), specializing in Women’s Law, from the University of Zimbabwe.
- An honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Nkumba University.
FOX ODOI
Fox Odoi-Oywelowo is a Ugandan Advocate and legislator. Odoi-Oywelowo is
On January 14th 2021, Fox Odoi-Oywelowo was elected Member of Uganda’s Eleventh Parliament representing West Budama North East Constituency. In June, he took over leadership of the Human Rights Committee of Parliament. An avid Human Rights Advocate and defender, he vows to hold every institution accountable for Human rights violations.
Those who know Museveni say he always picks from those he already knows. He does not experiment especially with crucial positions as in the appointment of his former lawyer Kiryowa kiwanuka to Attorney General. Odoi is therefore one of the favourites now having worked as a Senior Legal Counsel to the president.
Odoi is also a born of Eastern Uganda in West Budama, something that could handicap him going into this race where the regional balance card will certainly be raised since the deputy speaker Anita Among is from the same region.
Odoi studied law at Makerere University and attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, graduating in 1993.
In 2011, Fox Odoi-Oywelowo was elected as Member of the Ninth Parliament of Uganda representing West Budama North Constituency. While in parliament, he was Chairman, Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline. He also served as member of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Budget Committee.
Theodore Ssekikubo
Ssekikubo Theodore born 20 August 1969 in Ssembabule, is a Ugandan politician representing Lwemiyaga County, Sembabule District
Ssekikubo was among the candidates that expressed interest in the speakership in 2021 before being told to wait their turn by the NRM central executive committee led by President Museveni in favour of the pair of Jacob Oulanyah and Anita Among.
Ssekikubo has
- a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences,
- Master of Public Administration and Management
- a Bachelor of Laws in law and a
- a Postgraduate diploma in Legal practice.
Ssekikubo is however controversial having been a part of the rebel Mps that refuted party positions on the floor. Some party members fear that if elected speaker, he could be one to overrule NRM party decisions.
Thomas Tayebwa
Thomas Bangirana Tayebwa (41) is a lawyer and politician.
He was appointed as the Government Chief Whip by president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Tayebwa is in parliament for his 2nd term of office having joined in 2016 as Ruhinda North county MP. He served as a member of National Economy Committee and Natural Resources Committee.
Tayebwa is one of the fresh faces in the NRM, young and vibrant and many of the young legislators believe in him.
As government chief whip, he has been in charge of all the NRM MPS and therefore already has a relationship with the biggest chunk of the house.
Tayebwa has a Bachelor of arts in Social Sciences from Makerere University, and in 2012 he received a Bachelor of Law degree from Makerere as well.
Although just one term into parliament, Tayebwa run a spirited campaign for the deputy speakership position but was convinced by the Central executive committee to put his ambitions on hold in favour of current deputy speaker Anita Among.
Anita Among
Anita Annet Among is a Ugandan accountant, lawyer and politician who serves as the Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda.
She is also the elected woman member of parliament for Bukedea District.
Among has been holding fort while her boss the late Jacob Oulanyah battled illness and one woud say has already been in charge of parliament.
Among is a safe decision for President Museveni since the transition would be easier for the institution of parliament.
Among’s journey to the top however is more complicated by the law.
Should she wish to stand for the vacant position, Among has to resign her position as deputy speaker. Losing the Friday election however would mean she will have to go back to the backbench.
Anita Among;
- Graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, from Makerere University, in 2005.
- Was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree, also by Makerere University.
- Graduated from Kampala International University, with a Bachelor of Laws degree.
The National Resistance Movenment NRM CEC sits TUESDAY, cAUCUS ON Thursday and an election on Friday before the body of the fallen speaker arrives the following day on Saturday.
