MAO SAYS STILL IN SPEAKER RACE DESPITE REPORTS OF NRM BACKING OBOTH

DAILY MONITOR

Opposition Democratic Party [DP] president Norbert Mao has insisted he remains in the race for Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, dismissing speculation that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Patriotic League of Uganda have already settled on Jacob Oboth-Oboth for the position.

Mr Mao’s declaration comes just days after former Speaker Anita Annet Among announced she had withdrawn from the race and would support whichever candidate is endorsed by the NRM.

Speaking during the Democratic Party’s weekly press conference at the party headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala on Tuesday, Mr Mao said the country could not afford what he described as “improvisation” in selecting the next Speaker.

“I’m still in the race, and we cannot choose leaders through improvisation. The Speaker’s office is too important for trial and error,” Mr Mao said.

The Laroo-Pece MP, who also serves as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, argued that the leadership of Parliament should be anchored on competence, institutional reforms and political maturity.

He dismissed claims that the contest had already been decided, citing remarks by NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Tanga Odoi that the ruling party had not officially endorsed any candidate for the Speakership.

Mr Mao also defended the cooperation agreement between the Democratic Party and the NRM, saying many critics fail to appreciate the historical ties between the two political formations.

According to him, the DP has honoured its obligations under the cooperation arrangement, although some agreed principles remain unimplemented.

He argued that the gaps in implementing the agreement further strengthen his case for consideration as Speaker.

“People should remember history. The partnership between NRM and DP was not accidental. Many of those who sacrificed in the struggle that brought NRM to power were members of DP,” he said.

Mr Mao rejected accusations that his political moves were driven by personal interests or negotiations for political office.

“Some people say Mao is only negotiating for a position. If that was my intention, I would simply have become an endorser and negotiated the next deal. But I chose to stick my neck out because leadership matters,” he said.

Despite growing political attention around alternative candidates, Mr Mao maintained that his reform agenda would give Parliament a new direction.

“We say make Parliament great again. Ugandans must believe that parliamentary debates can influence corruption, education, service delivery and their everyday lives,” he said.

He added that the contest was bigger than individual ambition and would shape the future direction of the country.

“The choice of Speaker will determine the kind of Uganda we want to build,” he added.

Mr Mao also outlined a reform agenda he said would transform Parliament into a more transparent and people-centred institution if elected Speaker.

Among his proposals is reopening Parliament’s public gallery to allow ordinary Ugandans to freely observe proceedings.

“We shall ensure the gallery is open again. People should be able to access Parliament on a first-come, first-served basis. In the past, citizens queued to attend debates because they believed discussions in Parliament mattered to their lives,” he said.

Mr Mao also pledged to make parliamentary business more accessible through the translation of reports and official documents into local languages.

“Parliamentary reports should be translated into local languages so ordinary citizens can understand what is being discussed in their name,” he said.

Parliament will vote a new speaker next Monday and over four MPs have expressed interest in leading the House.