Thirteen Members of parliament have thrown their names in the hat for the National resistance movement to choose from for the position of speaker of the 11th parliament to replace fallen speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
The 13 all did so on Tuesday at the NRM electoral commission headquarters in Kampala.
We have profiled the favourites to become speaker of the house.
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.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Jane Ruth Aceng is a Ugandan pediatrician and politician. She is the Minister of Health in the Cabinet of Uganda. In July 2020, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng declared her intentions to contest for the position of Women Representative for Lira District, in the 11th Parliament (2021 – 2026). She intends to run on the ruling National Resistance Movement political party ticket.
Aceng is a member of the board of directors of the Infectious Diseases Institute. She also served as a member of the board of Uganda National Medical Stores, the pharmaceutical procurement and distribution arm of the health ministry, from 2005 until 2016.
Jane Ruth Aceng;
- Attended Shimoni Primary School in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city
- Studied at Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School for both her Ordinary and Advanced Level education.
- Holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a Master of Medicine in Pediatrics, and a Master of Public Health, all from the Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
- She also holds a Diploma in Health Systems Management awarded by the Galilee International Management Institute, in Israel.
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.
While expressing his interest in Speakership race today, he stated that his candidature for Speaker is paying tribute to the fallen Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah.
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.
Felix Okot Ogong
Felix Okot Ogong, born January 22 1965 is a Ugandan economist, politician and member of parliament from Dokolo South County currently sitting in the Pan African Parliament, the legislative arm of African Union for a second term having been sent to the parliament during the 10th Ugandan Parliament.
He was a State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs and he is a member of National Resistance Movement (NRM) on whose platform he served in the parliament since 1996. Ogong is the founder and Managing Director of Feslistar bus services and Voice of Lango Fm based in Lira town.
- He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Geography from Makerere University.
The other candidates who expressed their interest in Speakership race are;
- Kafuuzi Jackson Karugaba, Deputy Attorney General of Uganda and Member of Parliament representing Kyaka South County Constituency, Kyegegwa District.
- Atima Lee Buti Jackson, Member of Parliament representing Arua City.
- Sarah Achieng Opendi, State Minister of Mineral Development and Woman MP Tororo District.
- Kintu Alex Brandon. Member of Parliament representing Kagoma North.
- Obua Denis Hansom. Minister of State for Sports and Member of Parliament representing Ajuri County, Alebtong District.
- Dr. Asiimwe Florence Akiiki. Representative of parliament for Masindi District.
- Okol Okot Jonamos, Member of Parliament Agago North County.
- Pius Wakabi, Member of Parliament Bugaya County.
The position of speaker of the 11th parliament fell vacant on Saturday after Omoro MP Jacob Oulanyah died in seattle USA. The law orders parliament not to conduct any other business before electing a new speaker in such instances hence the snap election.
The National resistance movement NRM party central executive committee(CEC)sits on Wednesday to choose names whom they will then forward to the party caucus for a vote at Kololo the following day.
As was the case for the Oulanyah – Anita Among duo, however, consensus was reached at CEC level and the caucus only endorsed the decision.
