Former UPDF intelligence chief Gen. David Sejusa has offered his view on the ongoing debate around Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao’s Speakership bid, framing it as part of wider political arrangements rather than a routine party contest.
In a public reflection, Sejusa questioned why Parliament retained Thomas Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker while discussions around the Speakership continue to intensify.
He suggested that such an arrangement could have political implications in the unfolding leadership negotiations.
Sejusa further raised concerns about what he described as overlapping leadership structures in Parliament, arguing that the current setup may not fully align with a smooth transition if Mao’s bid gains traction.
Opposition leadership in Speaker roles
Sejusa dismissed the notion that an opposition-leaning figure holding the Speakership would be unusual, saying similar arrangements have occurred in other countries under coalition or consensus-driven politics.
He cited examples including Australia, Taiwan, Kuwait, and Kenya, where Speakers have at times emerged outside the governing party as part of broader political agreements.
“In having an opposition MP becoming Speaker, it is not as strange or uncommon as many seem to think,” he said. “To forge national consensus, countries have appointed Speakers from opposition even where there are no clear party mergers.”
Link to Uganda’s political cooperation
He also pointed to Uganda’s current political environment, particularly the cooperation between the Democratic Party and the National Resistance Movement, where Mao serves as a Cabinet Minister despite being DP president.
According to Sejusa, such arrangements often influence leadership decisions in Parliament, depending on the broader political direction being pursued.
“It depends on what the national agenda of the time is,” he noted.
Speakership race context
Mao’s bid for Speaker comes at a time of heightened competition for parliamentary leadership positions in the 12th Parliament.
The role is considered one of the most influential offices in the country, overseeing legislative business and shaping relations between Parliament and the Executive.
The race is expected to involve negotiations across party lines, with both ruling party structures and opposition-aligned lawmakers playing a role in determining the outcome.
Sejusa’s remarks add to the ongoing debate on whether the Speakership should remain strictly within ruling party control or be opened up to broader political consensus.