HIGH STAKES AT TABLE! Health Minister Aceng Coils Out of Speakership Race

Kampala – Uganda’s health minister Jane Ruth Aceng has withdrawn from the Speakership race for NRM Party flag.

In a brief phone conversation with our reporter, Tanga Odoi, the NRM’s Electoral commission confired confirmed that Minister Aceng has pulled out the race.

The Lira City Woman MP, on Tuesday, expressed her interest in the Speakership race through her Personal Assistant, George William Ssebamala, that she wanted to be the executive head of the legislature.

Hon. Aceng hit the limelight for spearheading the Covid 19 fight in Uganda whilst the nation’s health system was put to test.

Prior to Aceng’s exit from the race, a total of thirteen legislators have expressed intent to hold the ruling party flag in the Speakership race following the passing of Jacob Oulanyah in the United States.

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, and others.

Others are Dokolo South MP, Felix Okot Ogongo, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, Kagoma North MP Kintu Brandon, and 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. He died on Sunday from a hospital in Seattle USA, where he had been taken for specialized treatment last month.

At the time of his death, Oulanyah had only presided over parliament business for 9 months and 24 days since his election to the position on 24th May 2021.