The country has come to terms with a shock of the loss of the speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah who bared made a year since occupying the position and only chaired a handful of parliamentary sittings due to ill health which deteriorated when he had just been elected.
After questioning why their sons of Acholi die quickly after occupying high positions in Museveni’s government, Acholi MPs are now requesting government to ring-fence the position for speakership for only their region. They say Oulanyah has not been able to serve his five-year term so it would be prudent if amongst themselves from Acholi, one is elected speaker to finish Oulanyah’s term.
According to Kilak South legislator Gilbert Oulanyah, he says it would be very unfair to the people of Acholi unfair when position is given to someone from another region when the deceased has diligently served the NRM Government since crossing from UPC to NRM that very year he lost his parliamentary seat in 2006.
Oulanyah’s death has left three key positions in Museveni’s government vacant, he was the Vice Chairperson NRM northern region, Omollo county Member of parliament and Speaker of parliament. With the Omollo County sit, his family has already hinted at fronting his immediate relative to replace him.
Several regions have always asked to retain key positions when their own who has been occupying it passes on. Recently when Kabale district L.C5 Nelson Nshangabashaija requested that the position for bank of Uganda which remains vacant till date be ring fenced for people of Kabale following the demise of Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire who hailed from the same region.
Hon Gilbert Oulanyah’s request comes at the back drop of a growing scramble to replace Oulanyah at parliament as speaker as many MPs have indeed shown interest to head the legislature, notably of these is former speaker of parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga and Deputy Speaker Anita Among Annet.
We wait to see how events will unfold, keep it here.
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