MPs to Elect New Speaker Before Oulanyah’s Body is Taken to Parliament.
March 21, 2022
Parliament will have to hold fresh elections for Speaker before Hon Jacob Oulanyah’s body is taken to the August House.
Oulanyah passed away on Sunday morning at a hospital in Seattle, United States.
Article 18 of the Constitution provides that “… no business shall be transacted in Parliament other than an election to the office of Speaker at any time that office is vacant.”
This means that until a new Speaker is elected, Parliament business remains on hold.
A retired judge, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told ChimpReports on Sunday night: “I think Parliament will have to be convened quickly to elect a new Speaker even before Jacob is brought into Parliament for eulogy.”
It remains unclear if Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, will contest for Speakership.
However, the judge said Among would have to first relinquish her position if she’s interested in succeeding Oulanyah.
“Of course she would first have to resign (as Deputy Speaker),” said the retired judge who doubles as an expert on Constitutional Law.
Officials told ChimpReportsthat the government was considering electing a new Speaker of Parliament later this week.
The law also locks out former Speaker Rebbecca Kadaga from contesting for the position of speaker unless she resigns her position as 1st Deputy Prime Ministerand Minister for East African Community Affairs.
The law provides that, “The Speaker and Deputy Speaker shall be elected by members of Parliament from among their number,” adding, “A person shall not be qualified to be elected a Speaker or Deputy Speaker if he or she is a Vice President or a Minister.”
Article 81 further states that the Chief Justice or a judge designated by the Chief Justice shall preside at an election of a Speaker.
Oulanya’s death leaves the ruling National Resistance Movement, which boasts a majority in the House, with the task of selecting the deceased’s successor.
For political reasons, the President could be inclined to root for an MP from northern Uganda to take over from the deceased Omoro County MP.
Northern Uganda voted overwhelmingly for the ruling NRM party in the 2021 elections.
President Museveni today described Oulanyah, as a “good Cadre.”
The Speaker was evacuated from Uganda on February 3, 2022 on a chartered Uganda Airlines flight before being booked in a hospital in United States.
Oulanyah last chaired Parliament on November 24, 2021.