KAMPALA.Thomas Tayebwa was on Monday sworn in for another five-year term as Deputy Speaker after securing a commanding victory in a vote that further cemented the ruling National Resistance Movement’s dominance over Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
Tayebwa, the Ruhinda North County MP in Mitooma District, garnered 457 votes in a secret ballot conducted during the opening sitting of the new Parliament at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
Newly elected Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, presiding over his first parliamentary session after earlier taking oath, declared Tayebwa winner of the deputy speaker contest following tallying of 519 ballot papers.
Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato finished second with 45 votes, while less known Dokolo Woman MP Sarah Aguti secured 14 votes in a race largely overshadowed by the ruling party’s overwhelming numerical strength in Parliament.
The outcome had widely been expected given the NRM’s imposing majority of about 372 legislators, numbers the ruling party has historically used to bulldoze policies, motions and bills favourable to its interests through Parliament.
Tayebwa immediately took oath before receiving the instruments of power associated with the Office of the Deputy Speaker, formally retaining his role as alternate presiding officer of Parliament.
The deputy speaker vote came shortly after Oboth-Oboth’s maiden speech in which the new Speaker promised fairness to all legislators, including those who voted against him.
“God has spoken to Uganda through you all; the National NRM Chairperson, NRM CEC, NRM Caucus and this Parliament,” he remarked.
Adding: “I wish to thank my NRM party chairman H.E. Yoweri Museveni for the confidence and trust he showed in my abilities since 2011. To those who may not have voted for me, I will be your Speaker too.” Oboth-Oboth told lawmakers.
The back-to-back victories by Oboth-Oboth and Tayebwa completed the NRM’s consolidation of Parliament’s top leadership positions at the start of the 12th Parliament.
“It’s my duty to support the vision of my brother. He has been my unofficial advisor and now I will be his quiet advisor,” Tayebwa remarked in his acceptance speech, adding: “Let us focus on what the president has said is Uganda’s problem- – -poverty.”
Reacting to their wins, President Museveni said: “When you are making alarm for food, you make a small one because you doont want many people to come but when you make alarm for war, you make a big one.”
“NRM members in parliament are just over 372 but they have been joined by others and that is how we got the 457 for Tayebwa and 441 for Oboth. So, you can see my strategy of making big alarm. It is the NRM plus the independents plus some good opposition people. But I must mourn my 15 votes which Mao took away because I’m in alliance with him. Those are also my votes. Then my son Akena through the girl [Sarah Aguti]. We shall sort it out,” he added.