The ruling party fronted Oulanyah as their ‘unopposed’ flag bearer despite the fact that the party’s national vice chairperson Kadaga also expressed interest in the same seat. Kadaga, who stormed out of the NRM central executive committee (CEC) would later stand as an independent candidate while Ssemujju is running on the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket.
Tension at Kololo is very high given what is at stake. Museveni reportedly even told Oulanyah that if he loses to Kadaga, he will only have himself to blame because the party has done its part. There’s even belief that the NRM’s sharp divisions and differences may just give a slight glimmer of hope to Ssemujju who may trounce the duo despite the NRM majority.
Oulanyah was nominated by Bright Rwamirama (NRM) and seconded by Betty Amongi (UPC). They claimed Oulanyah has a nationalistic appeal which was reflected in his overwhelming election results he posted as he won the Omoro county seat earlier in January this year.
Ssemujju was nominated by Allan Ssewanyana (NUP) and seconded by Moses Attan (FDC). They said Ssemujju was the ideal candidate due to his independent mind, experience in parliamentary affairs; first as a reporter, MP, chief whip and chairperson of the Cosase committee.
They also said Ssemujju will preside over parliament with impartiality, protect it from external forces and influence like happened in the previous reigns of Kadaga and Oulanyah when presidential guards were allowed into the chambers to cause harm and injury to MPs during the debate on the lifting of presidential age limits.
They also said Ssemujju will ensure that the speaker’s office and MPs’ entitlements are not personalised as has been previously happening with Kadaga and Oulanyah.
On the other hand, Kadaga was nominated by Stephen Kisa Bakubalwayo (NRM) and seconded by Geoffrey Macho (Independent-NRM leaning) for always ‘speaking out for the common person, fluency in English and French, being a women rights and social-economic justice activist’ among others.
Enanga, said they have realized that the positions of speaker and deputy speaker are very hotly contested and they have effectively deployed overt and covert security teams.
Enanga said they have ensured controlled access to Kololo and the candidates’ homes before, during and after the election. He further said security are closely monitoring any disruptive behaviour by the supporters and candidates. Enanga said they have also deployed at the homes of deputy speaker candidates.
“The elections are hotly contested and we have effectively deployed at the venue with effective access controls. In addition to that we are closely monitoring any disruptive behaviours of fans and candidates. We have increased visibility in KMP [Kamapala Metropolitan area] because it is always an area of interest,” Enanga said.
The deputy speaker race has Anita Among as the flagbearer of NRM contesting against Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko. MP Thomas Tayebwa who lost to Among in the NRM CEC and caucus and had threatened to run as an independent pulled out of the race on grounds of gender balance, after realising that the NRM had picked a man rather than a woman to run for speaker.
Enanga said Kampala being a centre for all political activities and housing head offices of all political parties will be closely monitored during and even after speaker and deputy speaker elections.
Some of the major political parties with headquarters in Kampala include NRM at Kyadondo road, FDC in Najjanankumbi, NUP in Kamwokya, UPC on Kampala road and DPC at Duster street.
Initially, only 320 MPs of the 529 were available at the start of the voting process, raising concern among the citizenry about the early levels of absenteeism of the 11th parliament on its very first sitting.