Speaker and Deputy Speaker election to be held at Kololo Independence Grounds

“Neither the Parliament chamber nor the parking lot can accommodate over 500 MPs that are well spaced in one go. So, following the health ministry guidelines, we had to move the event,” Kawesa said.

Elections for the Speaker and deputy of the 11th Parliament have been moved from the House chambers to Kololo Independence Grounds, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They will be preceded by the swearing in of the new Members of Parliament (MPs).

A general notice by the Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, published in the Uganda Gazette last week, says the MPs will take their oaths in alphabetical order, between May 17 and 20.

“Every person elected to Parliament shall take and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of MP, asspecified in the fourth schedule of the Constitution; and shall not, except for purposes of taking the oaths, sit or vote in Parliament before taking and subscribing to the oaths,” the notice reads. The said oaths shall be administered by the clerk, but due to COVID-19, the size of each MP’s entourage has been limited.

Newly Elected Mps At Kyankwanzi

“The swearing-in of MPs will be at Parliament because it is a walk-in-andout ceremony, so as the COVID-19 guidelines are adhered to. We have already informed MPs-elect that heir entourages will be limited,” the assistant director of communications, Helen Kawesa, said on Sunday.

She added that due to the large number of MPs, the elections of the Speaker and deputy have been moved to Kololo Independence Grounds to observe social distancing.“Neither the Parliament chamber nor the parking lot can accommodate over 500 MPs that are well spaced in one go. So, following the health ministry guidelines, we had to move the event,” Kawesa said.

The 527 MPs are expected to elect their Speaker and deputy from among their number during their first sitting, which is not expected to fall on later than May 25. Article 82 (4) of the Constitution requires that no business shall be transacted in Parliament, other than an election to the office of the Speaker, at any time that office is vacant.

The Chief Justice or a judge designated by him/her will be present to preside at the election of the Speaker, who will, in turn, preside over the election of his/her deputy.

The incumbent Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, her deputy Jacob Oulanyah, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Bukoto Central MP Richard Ssebamala have already expressed interest in running for the office of the Speaker. 

Kadaga, The Current Speaker

Besides the oaths of allegiance and MPs, those elected for the office of the Speaker and deputy shall each, before assuming their duties of office, take separate oaths as prescribed in the fourth schedule of the law.

“At an election of the Speaker and deputy, the presiding officer shall invite nominations from MPs present where a member making the nomination shall move a motion that a preferred candidate do take the chair of this Parliament as the Speaker/ deputy and give a brief statement of background and qualifications of the nominee,” according to Parliament’s rules of procedure.

“Nomination shall be seconded and if one person is nominated, her/ she shall be declared elected and conducted to the chair. Where more than one person is nominated, the House shall proceed to elect a Speaker by secret ballot,” the rules say