Uganda parliament elects first female speaker

May 19, 2011 (KAMPALA) – Ugandan parliamentarians elected Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga as the Speaker of the 9th parliament on Thursday. Kadaga received 302 votes and her rival 57.

Praised in the local media as a renowned women’s rights activist, Kadaga served in the last three consecutive parliaments as deputy speaker from 2001 to 2011. She held other high profile offices in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that came to power in 1986.

With backing of NRM members of parliament, Kadaga defeated Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) nominee Nathan Nandala Mafabi comfortably. Her victory was widely circulated in newspapers after NRM fronted her in favour of the outgoing speaker, Edward Ssekandi.

Uganda parliament expanded to 375 MPs this years following the creation of new district.

Following February elections the 8th parliament was dissolved on Wednesday after MPs were sworn-in and the 9th parliament opened today with election of the speaker.

In a recent statement Museveni criticised oppostion parties, protestors and the media for recent unrest in Uganda. A dubious re-election and rising living costs have caused people to take to the streets.

(ST)