Speakership Race: Kadaga Defies CEC Decision, Goes Independent

Rebecca Kadaga has announced that she will contest as independent in the speakership race tomorrow, Monday.

While addressing the media at Hotel Africana this evening, Kadaga accused the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) of marginalizing her on ground that she has been speaking about the alleged injustices in the country.

"My Party-the NRM Party has opted not to give me the flag for position of Speaker of Parliament. I have therefore decided to contest as independent," Kadaga said, adding that there have been many attempts to eject her from the Party. She accused the State of interfering in the CEC elections last year in order to have her lose-an allegation she could not substantiate further. 

"Even today, I was not given an opportunity to present myself to the electorate [MPs]. I was pushed out because I have been speaking about issues of the ordinary people. I will however continue to speak about those issues," she said. 

Kadaga added that despite the Constitutional provison, the position of women has been relegated and promised to stand up for the rights of women who have been marginalized. 

NRM CEC today morning endorsed Jacob Oulanyah as the flagbearer for Speaker, a position which the NRM caucus sitting at State House Entebbe also endorsed this afternoon. 

The NRM Constitution spells tough disciplinary actions for any member who goes against Party decision and rebels the Party. By virtue of her position as second National Vice chairperson (female), Kadaga is the third most top NRM member who is expected to respect party decision as bidding. 

MPs will tomorrow, Monday convene for the first sitting of the 11th Parliament where they will vote their Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The other candidate for the speakership race is FDC's Ibrahim Ssemujju.