Speaker Race: State House officials reportedly calling NRM MPs with orders to vote Jacob Oulanyah & reject Kadaga

Reports that a number of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs have severally received calls from State House to vote Jacob Oulanyah, and not Rebecca Kadaga, for speaker came to the fore as the incumbent head of the legislative arm of government launch her reelection bid for a third term.

 Kadaga launched her reelection bid at Speke Resort Munyonyo on March 24.

She seeks to retain the speaker position, the third topmost in the country’s political hierarchy after the president and vice president.

Kadaga is the incumbent speaker, after taking over from now 10-year-long vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in 2011.

Before becoming speaker, Kadaga was Speaker Ssekandi’s deputy.

In the race due in May 2021, Kadaga is facing her deputy Oulanyah, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Democratic Party (DP) Bukoto Central MP-elect Richard Ssebamala.

Some MPs have reportedly complained to Kadaga that they have received orders from State House to vote Oulanyah and reject Kadaga.

But in response, Kadaga said her political enemies were using State House switchboards to campaign for Oulanyah.

She tipped the MPs on how to respond whenever they get the calls allegedly from State House.

“If they say it’s the President, ask them to tell the President to call you on your line,” Kadaga said.