By Markson Omagor
KAMPALA
The Rt. Honorable Speaker of Parliament has revealed how her Deputy, Jacob Oulanyah tricked her into chairing the Age Limit Bill debate.
Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga made the stunning revelations today at Munyonyo where she launched her official campaigns to retain the much coveted seat.
Lawmakers voted to scrap the presidential age-limit of 75 years on 20th December 2017. That move ensured that President Museveni could contest again in 2021. At the time the bill was passed President Museveni was 73 years old.
The passing of the bill has since become a sticking point in Uganda’s body politic with many accusing the law makers of selling the country. As it were, tensions were high during the debate and its passing.
317 voted to end the age-limit while 97 voted against it. Apparently Speaker Kadaga believes her Deputy tricked her into handling one of the most controversial bills in recent years.
“During the age limit Bill, my Deputy rang me and said there was something he couldn’t handle. I was in the US but I came back, straight into the fire and he ran away, far out of the country,” Speaker Kadaga said today.
Kadaga is facing stiff competition from Oulanyah with many NRM MPs saying it is now time for the latter. Recently, a majority of Lango MP’s resolved to back Oulanyah candidature.
Early this month, the NRM Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa is quoted as saying Kadaga is going to an earlier position taken by CEC.
“But we all know what was agreed in CEC during the last election. It was agreed Oulanyah steps down for you in agreement that he would be the next Speaker,” Nankabirwa told off Kadaga.
An infuriated Kadaga then told the Chief Whip to stop importing CEC discussions to the floor of Parliament.
