Justice Minister Norbert Mao yesterday appeared to throw his hat in the ring, ending speculation surrounding his potential candidacy in the race to become the Speaker of Parliament.
Mr Mao, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City, said his decision on whether to seek the powerful parliamentary post will depend on consultations with the leadership of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and other key political stakeholders.
Speaking to the media at the Democratic Party (DP) headquarters in Kampala, Mr Mao said although discussions about his running for the job have dominated public debate, he was not the source of the reports linking him to the contest.
‘I have never been afraid to declare interest in any position. But this speakership talk did not start with me. There is simply a lot of goodwill whenever my name is mentioned in relation to that office,’ Mr Mao said. But he was quick to clarify that any consideration of the race for Speakership should not be interpreted as abandoning his long-standing presidential ambition. ‘I have not abandoned my ambition of becoming President of Uganda. I still stand by it,’ he said. Mr Mao said he has increasingly felt public support while interacting with citizens, adding that he and DP cannot afford to ignore such goodwill.
He said some of the voices now urging him to consider the Speakership are the same people who were once critical of him.
‘Ugandans may be stubborn, but they also recognise certain qualities. There is a clear hunger in the country for a more accountable and institutionally strong Parliament,’ he said. Mr Mao also pointed to similarities drawn between him and the late Parliament Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, saying many people believe he represents continuity of institutional leadership, even though no one can replace the late Speaker.
‘That has put me in conflict with those who believe in ring-fencing positions, but I am not responsible for citizens saying Mao should be Speaker,’ he said.
Mr Mao said he qualifies for the Speakership under the law, noting that the position is open to any Member of Parliament. ‘I have experience, education, leadership skills and local and international networks, which are additional advantages. ‘A Speaker must belong to Parliament and not to any individual or party. That is why the Speaker heads an independent arm of government,’ he said.
Mr Mao revealed that shortly after being declared MP-elect, he received calls from several newly elected MPs encouraging him to contest for the post. However, he acknowledged political realities, including the NRM’s numerical dominance in Parliament. ‘NRM has the majority of MPs, and it is natural that those with numbers shape outcomes. That is why I am consulting, including with the NRM party leadership, and we shall talk openly. Everything we do must be in the interest of Uganda,’ he said.
Mr Mao also cited his political contribution in northern Uganda, particularly in Gulu, where he said support for President Museveni has shot up from about 44 percent to more than 80 percent. ‘That contribution cannot be ignored when national leadership questions arise,’ he said, describing himself as a pragmatic nationalist. On July 20, 2022, Mao led his party to signing a cooperation agreement with President Museveni and his NRM party.
NRM, DP pact
The pact outlined the sharing of political power and cooperation between the two parties, particularly in supporting the governance agenda and bolstering parliamentary votes for the full term, stretching from 2021 to 2026. Under the agreement Mr Mao was appointed Justice minister while other DP members were assigned various positions. However, many DP leaders rejected the agreement, arguing that Mao did not consult them before entering the agreement.
Whether this agreement will bolster Mao’s bid for the post of Parliament Speaker remains to be seen. But traditionally, the NRM party apex organ, the Central Executive Committee, has endorsed for two successive terms, both the sitting Speaker and Deputy. This remains to be seen whether Speaker Anita Among and her Deputy Thomas Tayebwa will enjoy the same privileges to serve out their two terms or be upset by Mao in the race to steward the 12th Parliament. Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected by MPs during the first sitting of a new Parliament, a process presided over by the Chief Justice.
DP election performance
On DP’s election performance, Mr Mao blamed limited funding and conflicts among political partners, particularly within the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD). ‘We went into the election with no money. We paid nomination fees, but candidates largely funded themselves,’ he said. He said quarrels between NRM and UPC affected the release of the promised campaign funds. Despite the challenges, DP secured six parliamentary seats, defying predictions that the party would be wiped out after several sitting MPs who rode to Parliament on its ticket decamped to other political formations.