Outgoing speaker Rebecca Kadaga has announced she will run as an independent against her ruling NRM party’s CEC chosen candidate Jacob Oulanyah.
“Fellow Ugandans, I have come to inform the people of Uganda that my party has opted not to give me the party flag for Speaker of Parliament,” said Kadaga during a 6pm press conference at Hotel Africana on May 23.
“I have therefore decided to run as an independent.”
Kadaga claimed NRM CEC had unfairly treated her, and that many forces that fought her, unsuccessfully, during her bid for second national NRM vice chairperson in 2020 had won in the May 23 CEC meeting.
Kadaga also told reporters she was being fought off the speaker position because she reportedly was fighting for the common man.
“There have been many attempts to eject me from NRM party leadership. I will contest for Speaker as independent. During CEC elections last year, there was intimidation and massive funding from some party members against me,” she said.
I’m being pushed out because of speaking about issues concerning ordinary Ugandans.”
As has become the norm for her and her legion of lobbyists, Kadaga fronted the gender card, swearing she was fighting for women inclusion in top positions of government.
The speaker is number three after the president and vice President in national hierarchy.