A revelation that Speaker Rebecca Kadaga literally kept her deputy, Jacob Oulanyah on ‘Katebe,’ (redundant) throughout 2020, has drawn the ire of many of his supporters accusing her of doing it intentionally to fail his chances.
On Sunday, state owned Sunday Vision, carried a story in which Kadaga spoke about why she kept Oulanyah from chairing plenary sessions in 2020, saying she did it because he ‘walked out on me and went to Germany without my permission.’
However, this has enraged Oulanyah’s camp according to the same report with many saying she is scared of his exceptional skills that could make him top favourite as the new race for speakership gathers steam.
Oulanyah last chaired the Plenary on February 11, 2020.
Many have been wondering whether it is even legal for a deputy speaker to be left redundant for such a long time.
Reports say Kadaga always argues that she has to finish a particular task as a way of her denying Oulanyah plenary time, something that has put both at odds.
Oulanyah is known for his punctuality and applying rules of procedure.
He recently told the media that now is his time to lead parliament, arguing that they had a gentleman’s agreement in 2016 that made him get into a compromise for harmony of the party, to allow Kadaga complete a 10-year term.
Many in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party say his chances were boosted by the gains the party made in Northern Uganda where President Yoweri Museveni massively won, something that was credited to his mobilisation skills.
Oulanyah is also the NRM Vice Chairman for Northern Uganda.