According to the NRM director of communications, Emmanuel Dombo, during Monday’s cabinet sitting, it was agreed that MPs officially express interest today Tuesday.
Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore is among those who have expressed interest. The NRM parliamentary caucus will then sit on Thursday to endorse a candidate for the position before an election by parliament.
“I have been instructed by His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and national chairman of the NRM party to call a special caucus meeting on Thursday 24th March 2022 at Kololo Ceremonial grounds to discuss the issue of speaker of parliament,” reads part of a notice to NRM MPs issued by Government Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa.
He says that all members will be required to undertake a Covid-19 test on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Parliamentary Conference Hall.
“Only Members who will have taken the test with the prescribed service provider at the Parliamentary Conference Hall will attend the caucus,” further reads Tayebwa’s notice.
The parliament election process must be presided over by the chief justice or a judge designated by the chief justice until the new speaker takes an oath. The process is to ensure that a new speaker presides over a special sitting to eulogize the fallen Oulanyah.
Article 82 (4) of the Constitution requires that no business shall be transacted in parliament other than an election of speaker at any time that office is vacant. The same requirement is under Rule 5 (4) of the parliament rules of procedure.
Before the announcement of these dates, a section of MPs called for a speedy process to have a new speaker elected so that he or she presides over a sitting of parliament to eulogize the late Oulanyah.
Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa noted that it is important to have a substantive speaker in place to receive the body of the fallen head of the institution. However, Robert Kasolo, the Iki-Iki County MP suggested that the Constitution requires an amendment to allow the deputy speaker to carry on with parliament business when the speaker position is vacant. Kasolo, says that the speaker and deputy speaker need to carry equal powers.
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