Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has refuted the allegations that she is working secretly with the opposition against the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
Kadaga pointed out that her position as Speaker of parliament requires her to cooperate with all legislators regardless of their party affiliation. “Someone says I am supported by the opposition, he or she is just myopic because as a speaker I am supposed to be neutral. I work with them so that we have stability in the House,”she said.
She made these remarks in Ankole region where she is campaigning for the NRM female National vice chairperson seat.
Kadaga said it doesn’t cost anything to be partial and provide equal opportunity to all the members of parliament because they are in the house to represent the people of Uganda. “If I stop a person from speaking, how does it benefit me? I give you three minutes whether you talk nonsense, they are your minutes. You speak and go away,’’she added.
She said that even Cabinet has ministers who came from the Opposition and President Museveni is the one who selected them, which makes it right for her to always create harmony with the members of the Opposition in Parliament.
“Ministers; Betty Among is UPC, Betty Kamya is Federal Alliance, Nakiwala Kiyingi is Democratic Party and they are in Cabinet and so, someone comes here and says the speaker works with the Opposition; but they are in cabinet with my chairman, he submitted them and we approved them,”Kadaga said.
The speaker said, it is unfair for someone to say that she is working with the opposition without looking at all the necessary aspects.
Kadaga who was canvassing for votes to retain her position as NRM National Vice Chairperson (Female) in Mbarara City on Saturday, said her opponent goes around spreading lies that she is supported by the Opposition, which she said is unjustifiable.
“Let me start by demystifying a few lies. Now when someone says I am supported by the Opposition, you know I am the Speaker of Parliament, and this position necessitates me to work neutrally to serve everyone irrespective of their political affiliations,” she said.
She said such moves by her opponent are aimed at blind-folding people, which must be avoided by her supporters.
Kadaga also expressed concerns over her opponent’s authority yet she has only been in Parliament for three years.