It has emerged that president, Yoweri Museveni, has summoned NRM caucus to Kyankwanzi on Saturday this week. The caucus is going to be attended by outgoing and newly elected MPs as well as the party’s big wigs.
Although it is not clear what will be discussed during the caucus, NRM members speculate that the party’s poor performance in Buganda and Busoga during the presidential and parliamentary elections is likely to be top on agenda.
It is should remembered that National Unity Platform –NUP led by music star turned politician, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, outperformed NRM both in presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the Electoral Commission, Kyagulanyi beat Museveni with 62 percent in Buganda. In addition, 12 ministers from Buganda were floured by NUP candidates in MP races.
Kyagulanyi humbled Museveni Almost all districts in Buganda with a big margin. For instance, Kyagulanyi scored 72 percent in Kampala,71 percent in Mpigi, 70 percent in Luweero, 77 percent in Masaka City, 69 percent in Bukomansimbi, 71 percent in Mukono and 69 percent in Kayunga.
Museveni hopes to get answers from party’s big wigs in charge of Buganda and Busoga. Godfrey Kiwanda, the NRM Vice chairman for Buganda is expected to give a detailed explanation about NRM’s bad performance in Central region.
Other than election matters, Museveni is expected to tell the caucus on who he thinks is fit to be Speaker of Parliament for the 11th August House. Just like in 2016, the battle is between the reigning Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah.
Reports have been indicating that Museveni during the fierce elections for NRM Central Executive Committee- CEC members in 2020 informed Kadaga that this was her last term as Speaker of Parliament and should be prepared to take on another position in the executive.
Nevertheless, sources intimated that Kadaga rejected the offer and insisted that she will be running for the same position with or without NRM endorsement in May after the swearing in of MPs.
MPs told journalists at parliament that Museveni wants to discuss the Speaker issue early enough before new MPs are influenced by Opposition members who might also be wishing to stand for the same.