The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has unveiled a strict roadmap for the forthcoming race for Speaker of Parliament, barring campaigns, voter bribery and smear tactics as competition intensifies within the party ranks.
Addressing journalists on Friday evening, NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi announced that all eligible NRM Members of Parliament interested in the Speakership position must formally express interest between today -Friday- and May 23rd at 3:00pm.
According to the roadmap approved by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), candidates are required to submit handwritten letters of expression of interest alongside their curriculum vitae addressed to the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson.
Dr Odoi said the names of interested candidates would be forwarded to the CEC, which is scheduled to convene on Sunday, May 24 at 9:00am to discuss and harmonise the list before the NRM parliamentary caucus meets later the same day at State House at 2:00pm.
“There are 372 NRM Members of Parliament and all are qualified to contest,” Dr Odoi said during the press briefing. However, he clarified that NRM-leaning independents will neither be eligible to contest nor participate in voting during the internal party process and that CEC didn’t endorse anyone.
In what appears to be an attempt to contain growing tensions surrounding the race, the party imposed strict campaign guidelines, warning aspirants against canvassing for votes, offering money to MPs or engaging in smear campaigns against fellow contenders. He said no form of campaigning is allowed “Any candidate found campaigning, bribing voters or engaging in wrongful publication against others risks disqualification,” Dr Odoi warned.
Dr Tanga says that the former Speaker of Parliament who is also the 2nd National Vice Charperson Anita Among is unwell and that she wrote a letter saying that as such unable to attend. According to Dr Tanga, 22 CEC members out of 23 have attended today’s CEC meeting. He has also clarified that all NRM members of 12th Parliament qualify to contest in this race and that there is no amount of money to be paid by the aspirants co contest for the two positions.
The latest guidelines come amid heightened political activity and behind-the-scenes lobbying that have shaped the speakership succession debate in recent days. The contest has increasingly attracted attention following endorsements and mobilisation efforts linked to the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a pressure group associated with Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Dr Odoi sought to downplay concerns surrounding celebrations by some party members following PLU endorsements, saying the excitement was merely celebratory and should not be interpreted as official campaigning. “He said that the jubilation by some members about the PLU endorsement was just for celebrations,” a source at the briefing noted.
The Speakership race has emerged as one of the most closely watched internal contests within the ruling party, with analysts viewing it as a broader test of influence among competing power centres inside the NRM
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