General Yoweri Museveni has strongly warned the National Resistance Movement senior party leaders against using his name in the heated campaigns for Speaker of Parliament.
The no nonsense liberation Gen. Museveni made the warning at State House Entebbe on Monday according to knowledgeable and trusted sources, who attended the meeting. The meeting had Museveni; Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, her deputy Jacob Oulanyah, who are both standing for the speakership of 11th Parliament and the contenders for the deputy speaker.
Museveni openly pointed out at the meeting that his name is being misused in the speakership race, a dangerous thing that affects his status as the chairman of the party.
“I have heard and seen my name being dragged into the campaign for Speaker. That is not the spirit of the movement and I detest it,” said Museveni.
He told the participants that also included the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa and deputy speaker aspirants: Ruhinda North MP, Thomas Tayebwa; Bukedea Woman MP, Anita Among; West Budama MP, Jacob Oboth Oboth and Gomba Woman MP, Robinah Rwakojo, that he has no particular candidate he is supporting in the Speaker’s race.
“I do not support any one in the race. The people using my name must stop,” a source close to State House quoted the President as telling the meeting. “You should tell off those using my name in the Speaker race and report them to me. All the people in the race are my good cadres,” Museveni said as he looked at the direction of Nankabirwa and Oulanyah.
Nankabirwa, who supports Oulanyah, has said on NRM WhatsApp platform that NRM CEC is going to endorse the deputy speaker for Speaker basing on the purported 2016 agreement. Those campaigning for Oulanyah also projects him as the favourite and the candidate anointed by Museveni.
Kadaga has maintained that there was no agreement made in 2016 between her and Oulanyah.
“There was no agreement whatsoever made between me and anyone in 2016. There is new CEC and new Parliament,” said Kadaga recently in Munyonyo.
Kadaga has received massive support from both the old and the newly elected MPs, something that the NRM and system analysts are carefully examining how to deal with.
“Rt. Hon. Kadaga, despite her confrontational approach and unease with some party (NRM) circles, is on the lead and the worst would be to push her to the wall and she independently retains her seat,” said a source.
