KT Reporter
Norbert Mao says he is confident that, with the backing of powerful figures like Andrew Mwenda who wanted him to become the boss of parliament as early as 2022 after Oulanyah’s death, he can win to become the new speaker of parliament in May. The DP president told reporters in Kampala that most of the new NRM MPs have been ringing his phone calling on him to stand, assuring him of full support.
Mao, who has promised to start his open campaigns the moment his ongoing consultations are completed, says that this mob support from NRM MPs has encouraged him a lot to give the position serious thought.
The DP which he leads only has 6 MPs but Mao says with support of the NRM who are the majority, victory is going to be his. He says that he is also counting on votes from Acholi and other northerners.
He says Buganda is his too because his wife Beatrice is a muganda and even Katikkiro welcomed him already as a new son-in-law for Buganda which has more than 80 MPs. Mao is also sure of the votes from Busoga because Rebecca Kadaga who commands majority of the new winners doesn’t like Anita Among.
He is counting on Chris Baryomunsi and others to get upper hand in Kigezi and the likes of Lydia Wanyoto to do well among Bugisu MPs. Chris and Wanyoto a few days ago showed their opposition to Among. Mao said even in Teso, where Among comes from, he can do well because he has maternal connections there since one of his polygamous father’s wives was from Serere.
He told reporters that he is the only speaker who can unite Uganda because his dad was an Acholi and his mum a Munyankole from western Uganda. He added that he is the only speaker who fluently speaks all the bantu and Niolotic languages which means he can unite the country well.
He said in north he is at home, in Buganda he is at home because his wife comes from there and at home too in Ankole because that’s his mum’s birth place.
Mao said he deserves the position because Jacob Oulanyah who died in 2022 and was entitled to serving two terms up to 2031, was his fellow Acholi and very good friend. He said most Ugandans in the new parliament and on the streets believe that he can redirect parliament and make it more accountable and a people-centered legislature than has been the case under Among. He said the Acholis voted for Museveni 80% which means the NRM boss should share with them his political cake after May by endorsing him for speakership.
Mao said that he is sure the majority support he enjoys among individual NRM MPs can translate into clear victory because the voting of the speaker is by secret ballot which can protect members against retribution from the Anita Among camp. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
