Thirteen National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs have expressed interest in the position of the Speaker of Parliament.
These include the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi, Minister of State for Defence, Jacob Oboth Oboth, Jackson Atima Lee Buti, Arua Central MP, Tororo Woman MP, Sarah Opendi.
Others are Dokolo South MP, Felix Okot Ogongo, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, Kagoma North MP Kintu Brandon, Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of State for Sports, Hamson Obua, Florence Asiimwe, the Masindi Woman MP, John Amos Okot, the Agago North MP and Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County MP.
The position of Speaker fell vacant after the death of Omoro County MP, Jacob Oulanyah on Sunday from a hospital in Seattle USA.
On Monday, Cabinet set March 25 as the date for the election of a new speaker of Parliament.
This prompted the ruling NRM party to call for expression of interest from MPs.
On Tuesday, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the party EC Chairman started receiving applications from MPs at 9 am at the party headquarters.
The first person to submit forms was the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among through her Personal Assistant Mary Athieno.
Jacob Oboth says that he is the best candidate for the position. He has joined the race to ensure that he accomplishes what Oulanyah had planned to do.
Oboth said that he is ready to resign his ministerial position if he is endorsed by the party.
The applications will be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) chaired by President Yoweri Museveni who will on Wednesday discuss the candidates and make endorsements.
After this stage, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus will then sit on Thursday to endorse a candidate for the position before the election for a new Speaker on Friday.
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