By Ivan Mwine
The Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has chickened out of the race to replace fallen Speaker Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, who passed away last Sunday.
Aceng, who had expressed her intention to contest for the position of Speaker opted out of the race today after she submitted a withdrawal letter to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission led by Dr. Tanga Odoi, citing lack of enough time for preparation.
“I’ve taken a decision to withdraw my intention to stand for the Position of Speaker of @Parliament_Ug,” Aceng tweeted Wednesday.
She added that; “I have not had enough time to consult my party leadership, colleagues and family. I pledge to continue serving diligently in my current capacity as Minister for Health.”
Aceng was among the 13 NRM legislators that are contesting for the position who include; Anita Among, Jackson Kafuuzi, Atima Jackson, Felix Okot Ogong, Theodore Ssekikubo, Oboth Markson Jacob, Kintu Alex Brandon, Obua Denis Hamson, Asiimwe Florence Akiiki, Okoth John Amos and Wakabi Pius.
Meanwhile, we have established that opposition legislators Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality and Shamim Malende, the Kampala Female MP have since expressed interest in contesting for the position of Speaker.
Basalirwa and Malende are doing lobbying for support from their fellow legislators, with each of them entertaining hopes that he or she might end up as Uganda’s next Speaker. However, we have established from sources at Parliament that the Opposition caucus will sit on Thursday and come up with a flag bearer for the position of Speaker who will be announced ahead of the election slated for Friday.
