Museveni: Why We Refused to Ringfence Speaker Position for Acholi, Northern Uganda

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has explained his decision to reject a suggestion by a section of MPs from the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and West Nile who had insisted that late speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s successor should come from the region. 

The MPs had threatened to boycott the speaker election if one of their own was not chosen as a flagbearer for the NRM, which commands the majority in Parliament. (Read Story Here).

But on March 24, Museveni met 15 MPs representing their colleagues from the Northern Uganda sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and West Nile. (Read Story Here).

Speaking after Anita Among (Bukedea District Woman MP – NRM) and Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North – NRM) were elected speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, Museveni explained why his party has rejected the proposal by the MPs.

The president argued that Oulanyah’s legacy was that of a man who sought unity for the whole of Uganda, and that the legacy would be preserved if all people in the country looked at themselves as Ugandans, not using tribal lenses.

“I had intended not to speak about Oulanyah until the right time, but in terms of ringfencing his position, the proposers had a point in their view but we can not walk into such a mistake while watching. Don’t look at yourselves as Acholi etc. Look at yourselves as Ugandans,” said Museveni.

“Jacob Oulanyah while alive succeeded in uniting the people in Northern Uganda; Lango, Acholi, West Nile and all other people. He did it even more deeply than we (NRM) had done it. We should respect his legacy by not creating new mistakes.”

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