Nobert Mao, President of the Democratic Party (DP) and Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece Division, has formally declared his bid for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, describing the current occupant of the office as an “accidental speaker.”
Speaking Tuesday at the DP headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala, Mao said he had concluded extensive consultations with stakeholders, including fellow MPs-elect, before announcing his candidacy for the top parliamentary position.
Mao argued that the current Speaker, Anita Among, assumed office under unforeseen circumstances following the death of her predecessor, Jacob Oulanya.
“Unfortunately, we lost Jacob Oulanya. So we got an accidental speaker, yes, because nobody plans for death. It was not supposed to be that way, but now there’s an opportunity,” Mao said.
Oulanya, who previously served as Speaker of Parliament, died while still in office, paving the way for Among’s election to the role.
Mao said the decision to contest was driven by what he described as a nationwide outpouring of goodwill and encouragement.
“The prospect of Nobert Mao becoming Speaker of Parliament has energized the whole country. The country believes we are getting a safety net in these five critical years — a hand that can be trusted, with a record of working with all sorts of people,” he said.
He also framed his candidacy as a personal mission to uphold what he described as Oulanya’s unfinished goals.
“I wonder what my friend Jacob Oulanya would tell me if I met him on the other side of life and he says, ‘Mao, I left you behind. You have seen what is happening, and you did nothing,’” Mao remarked.
Mao now joins a growing list of contenders for the Speakership, including Mbale City Woman MP Lydia Wanyoto and State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza, both of whom have publicly declared interest in the position.
The race for Speaker is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as parties position themselves ahead of the 12th Parliament’s leadership elections.
