Tanga Backtracks on Independents as Namuganza Joins Speaker Contest

Bukono County MP Persis Namuganza has entered the Speaker of Parliament race after the NRM Electoral Commission accepted her expression of interest, despite earlier declarations that independent MPs would not be allowed to participate in the process.

Bukono County MP Persis Namuganza has formally expressed interest to the ruling National Resistance Movement party for the position of Speaker of Parliament ahead of the NRM parliamentary caucus meeting slated for Sunday, May 25.

Namuganza, who contested and won her parliamentary seat as an independent candidate despite maintaining close ties to the ruling party, expressed gratitude after her expression of interest was accepted.

Her nomination comes amid earlier remarks by the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Tanga Odoi, who had maintained that only official NRM members would be allowed to participate in the exercise.

Earlier on Friday, while addressing journalists after a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Odoi said, “NRM independent MPs are not allowed to express interest.”

However, the Electoral Commission chairperson later accepted Namuganza’s expression of interest, effectively reversing the earlier position.

Namuganza has long associated with the NRM and participated in the party primaries before losing the party flag. She later contested as an independent candidate in the January elections and emerged victorious.

Speaking shortly after her expression of interest was accepted, Namuganza defended her participation in the process, citing guidance from President Yoweri Museveni.

“The last time when we were in Kyankwanzi, the President said the NRM-leaning independents should participate in all party activities,” Namuganza said.

Her entry adds another layer to the growing contest for the speakership position within the ruling party ranks ahead of the decisive caucus meeting on Sunday.