An elder statesman’s advice for Kadaga

Kadaga’s roles in multi-party return

Cecilia Ogwal, Woman MP for Dokolo and a close friend of Kadaga, says the longtime politician from Kamuli has laid a lot of groundwork for the multi-party era to thrive today and therefore her political position should be looked at in that light.

“Anyone who wants to be a good leader and particularly the part one needs to plays to have an impact in politics needs to study the role of Rt. Hon Kadaga,” she says. “She did not just come to prominence suddenly.”

Ogwal says Kadaga’s long tenure in parliament and previous roles as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs were key on her way to the top. “We were working under a no party system and as minister, she was the whip of today,” Ogwal who worked closely with Kadaga then says.  She explains that in her position then, Kadaga was able to understand the interests of the legislature and the ruling party.

“The no party system did not allow us to stand out but we knew what the Movement and Opposition wanted,” Ogwal recalls. “We were cooperating for the interests of the return of the multiparty system with Paul Semogerere, Aggrey Awori and others.”

Ogwal says Kadaga in her role as minister of parliamentary affairs learnt a lot on how to balance the two ideological camps. “It is where she mastered her quality of deliverance,” Ogwal explains.

It was from her experience and her position that Kadaga edged out women rivals in the Movement for the position of Deputy Speaker like Christine Aporu, Betty Aketch.

Jacob Marksons Oboth, MP for West Budama Central who contested for Deputy Speaker before stepping down says all is not lost for Kadaga. I have high respect for Kadaga and Museveni. Let Ugandans give them an opportunity. They know each other well,” he says.

“Speaker can only go higher…she has a lot of leverage; she can be in the UN, she can do any work on the recommendation of government.”

Oboth is glad that Kadaga has restrained herself from making any statement after the election which he says is a sign of maturity.

Patricia Munabi, executive director of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), hails Kadaga for being an objective and independent Speaker and calling out the Executive for where they stepped out of line. Munabi says Kadaga led the campaign for more women MPs to get into parliament committees. But like many she has no easy answers for where the former Speaker heads next.

“I think that is a difficult question but she still represents the people of Kamuli. She has built a profile beyond this country” Munabi says. “Even if she does not get an appointment from the appointing authority, she has a whole breadth of space at regional and international level.”

Munabi adds that Kadaga’s previous tenure as chair of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) should be able to catapult her into an influential position even beyond Uganda. Kadaga revelled in the moment as Uganda hosted the Commonwealth parliamentary conference in 2019. It was the first time Uganda was hosting the conference in 52 years.

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