Oulanyah to Chair House for the first time Since January 2020

Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah will tomorrow, Wednesday have a rare opportunity to chair a parliamentary sitting for the first time since January 2020, Kampala Post has established.

To be exact, Oulanyah last chaired the House on Friday, 31st January 2020 where he presided over the passing of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (Amendment) Bill, 2019, according to the Parliamentary Hansard. Since then Oulanyah has had no chance to chair any plenary sitting as his boss, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga preferred to “steal the show” alone amidst their political rift as the latter seeks to unseat the former who is seeking a record 3rd term as Speaker of the 11th Parliament.

To the surprise of many, Oulanyah, also Omoro County MP will tomorrow (Wednesday) get a rare chance to chair the House after enduring a 12 month spell at the ‘mercy’ of Speaker. This ‘golden’ chance comes after Kadaga on Monday lost her niece, Sheila Kadaga who passed on at International Hospital Kampala (IHK). Kadaga is expected to attend the burial of her niece on Wednesday at the family’s ancestral grounds in Mbulamuti, Buzaaya County in Kamuli District.

This heartbreaking news leaves Kadaga with no option but allow Oulanyah take up the mantle for the first time in over one year. Since January 2020, Kadaga has undisputedly chaired 96 plenary sittings against Oulanyah’s only 4 which fell on January 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of 2020.

Article 82 of the 1995 Constitution recognizes that there shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament and in the absence of the Speaker, the Parliament Rules of Procedure give the Deputy Speaker the mandate to conduct parliament business including chairing the Parliamentary Commission.

According to tomorrow’s Order paper, Oulanyah is expected to preside over the Real Estates Agents Bill, 2020 which will be read for the first time by a private member, Hon Othieno Okoth (West Budama North). Other items on the order paper include; statement by the leader of Opposition in response to the National Budget Framework Paper for FY 2021/22- 2025/26 among others.