By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug)
Lira City
The Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has spoken out on the reasons why she withdrew her interest to contest for the position of speaker of parliament, saying she didn’t get enough time to consult her party leadership.
Dr Aceng who is also Lira City Woman Member of Parliament formally expressed her interest to contest to hold the National Resistance Movement Party flag in the elections of the Speaker of Parliament scheduled for Friday to replace the fallen Jacob Oulanyah.
In a letter dated 22nd March 2022 addressed to the Chairperson NRM electoral commission, Dr Aceng asserts that as a candidate she didn’t have enough time to consult, colleague members of parliament and her family.
The Minister says she felt that it was only proper for her to leave the race.
She thanked the NRM party for accepting and supporting her candidature from the time she expressed her interest in the number 3 top position in the country.
12 candidates are still in the race to replace Jacob Oulanyah, including the deputy speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among,three other ministers, Jackson Karugaba Kaffuzi,Markson Jacob Oboth and Denis Hamson Obua
Other MPs who have expressed interest to contest are; Dokolo County MP Felix Okot Ogong, Theodore Ssekikubo of Lwemiyaga,Sarah Achieng Opendi of Tororo,John Amos Okot of Agago,Jackson Atima of Arua,Kintu Alex Brandon of Jinja and Wakabi Pius of Hoim
The Central Executive Committee of NRM is expected to sit and vet the candidates for have expressed interest and forward the vetted name or names to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus who will elect one person to carry the party flag.
The election of the new Speaker is scheduled for Friday 23rd March 2022 this week.
