Robina Rwakoojo: Why I’m the best candidate for deputy speaker job

Gomba West MP Robina Gureme Rwakoojo has launched her deputy speaker campaign, explaining why she thinks she is best suited for the second most important job in the legislative arm of Uganda’s Parliament.

Rwakoojo is one of the nine MPs seeking to replace incumbent deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah who has expressed interest in competing against his boss Rebecca Kadaga.

Also in the deputy speaker race are: Anita Among (Bukedea District Woman), Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North), Jacob Oboth Oboth (West Budama), Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central), Philip Polly Okin Ojara (Chua West), Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga) and Eric Musana (Buyaga East).

Launching her campaign in Kampala, Rwakoojo explained that she had leadership experience spanning about three decades both in civil service and parliamentary matters.

In 2015, Rwakoojo retired from civil service to join parliamentary politics. By then, she had been a civil service for over two decades, working in the justice ministry, among other entities.

On joining parliament, Rwakoojo was assigned to chair the legal and parliamentary affairs committee from 2016 – 2018.

She later chaired a select committee investigating sexual violence in institutions of learning in Uganda.

Rwakoojo has been a member of the appointments committee.

She is presently the vice chairperson of the equal opportunities committee.

“Considering that committees act as mini parliaments in their mode of work, I believe it has given me the experience to blend with my bast legal knowledge,” said Rwakoojo.

Rwakoojo added that once elected deputy speaker, she would focus on four key areas: enhancing debating skills of MPs, improving welfare of MPs and parliament staff, promotion of a good working relationship among the arms of government, and media training.

Robina Gureme Rwakoojo Quick Profile

Date of birth: July 17, 1964

Profession: Lawyer

1976	PLE	Primary Leaving Examinations	Nakasero Primary School
1980	UCE	Uganda Certificate of Education	Nabumali High School
1984	UACE	Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education	Kings College Budo
1989	Bachelor of Laws	Bachelors Degree	Makerere University
1990	Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice	Postgraduate Diploma	Law Development Centre
2007	Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management	Postgraduate Diploma	Uganda Management Institute

Job Title	Organisation	Period Of Work
Commissioner Line Ministries	Directorate of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	2010 – 2015
Acting Director Civil Litigation	Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	2008 – 2013
Acting Head, Directorate of Civil Litigation	Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	2007 – 2008
Principal State Attorney	Directorate of Legal Advisory Services, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	1999 – 2003
Senior State Attorney	Directorate of Legal Advisory Services, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	1996 – 1999
Senior State Attorney	Administrator Generals Department, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	1995 – 1996
State Attorney	Administrator Generals Department, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	1992 – 1995
Pupil State Attorney	Administrator Generals Department, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	1990 – 1992
Principal State Attorney	Directorate of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs	2003 – 2007
Member of Parliament	Parliament of Uganda	2016 to date