Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of Uganda’s 11th Parliament, was noticeably absent from the inaugural sitting of the 12th Parliament today at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, where Members of Parliament convened to elect a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Her name was read out twice during the Clerk to Parliament’s roll call of legislators before voting commenced, drawing attention to her absence from the high-profile session that ushered in a new parliamentary leadership.
Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, who presided over the election, announced that 519 MPs were present and participated in the process that culminated in the election of Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth as Speaker.
The 12th Parliament comprises 529 legislators who had been sworn in earlier this month, leaving about 10 MPs absent from the sitting.
Among, who also serves as the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), has in recent weeks missed several key party engagements.
She did not attend the party’s fifth Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at State House Entebbe, which was chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Speaking to journalists during the expression of interest process for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions over the weekend, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Tanga Odoi said Among had formally informed the party leadership that she was unwell and would be unable to attend.
Among also missed the NRM parliamentary caucus meeting that endorsed Oboth-Oboth as the party’s candidate for Speaker.
Her absence comes amid heightened political scrutiny and ongoing investigations linked to her tenure as Speaker, developments that ultimately saw her withdraw from the race to retain the office.
By URN
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