Ssemujju disappointed by opposition MPs support for Kadaga

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kira municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has said that he’s very disappointed with opposition colleagues who publicly declared their support for Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to continue serving as the speaker of parliament.

Speaking to Uganda Radio Network-URN in a phone interview, Ssemujju who together with two others are challenging Kadaga’s third term bid, said that although he’s very disappointed that some of the members of the opposition are supporting the ruling party candidates, he’s not surprised.

The outspoken MP said refusing to support him in favour of Kadaga who is one of the topmost leaders of the National Resistance Movement is testimony that some of his colleagues are just opposition only in name.

Yesterday while launching her taskforce that will look for support for her, a number of opposition MPs including those from Ssemujju’s Forum for Democratic Change-FDC said they will be supporting Kadaga because she stands the most chance of becoming speaker. They said that in the last 10-years that she has steered the house, Kadaga proved herself as capable of being a speaker for all members of parliament irrespective of the political parties they belong to.

Kadaga is facing mounting competition from his deputy Jacob Oulanyah who some NRM bigwigs have portrayed as the candidate that is favoured by the party. On the other hand, Kadaga’s supporters look at Ssemujju’s candidature as unfavourable to her because most opposition MPs who would have voted for her might end up voting for Ssemujju.

Other than FDC MPs, there were a number of MPs belonging to the National Unity Platform who were also publicly unveiled as not only Kadaga’s supporters but will also be part of the task force that will look for her support. Among them is Joseph Ssewungu, Joyce Bagala, Kazibwe Bashir, Teddy Nambooze, Wakayima Musoke, and Ronald Balimwezo among others.

But Joel Ssenyonyi, the spokesperson of NUP and MP-elect for Nakawa West said that although there are a number of MPs who like Kadaga including himself, the party is yet to decide who they will support.

Commenting on NUP MPs’ support for Kadaga, Ssemujju said that before they start venerating her, they should first ask how she treated their principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu while parliament amended the constitution to scrap age limits in 2017.

“I was with Kyagulanyi in the same van when we were being driven to Naggalama after Kadaga called security on us. If they are new, I think they should ask their principal to tell them the stories of parliament,” Ssemujju said.

The 11th parliament is expected to be sworn in in the third week of May and later elect the speaker and the deputy speaker. Also in the race is Richard Ssebamala who defeated Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi to become the MP for Bukoto Central in Masaka district.

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URN