Most people especially in the opposition and independent minded Ugandans are applauding the Kampala Central Member of Parliament Muhammad Nsereko for going against President Museveni’s directive to stand down for Jacob Oulanya in the Deputy Speaker race.
The vibrant young legislator is currently serving his second term in parliament. He served his first term as a member of the ruling NRM, but would later fall out with the party alongside three other members, branded the rebel MPs.
Nsereko bounced back in the February 2016 general elections as an independent and MP Kampala central, surprising many.
However, during yesterday’s ceremony at Parliament, President Museveni insisted that Independent members of parliament belong to political parties, since they are serving under the multi-party politics.
Nsereko, a lawyer, has been serving as a member on the committee of Human rights affairs in the 9th Parliament.
He showed how brave he is when he withstood pressure from the ruling NRM members and Chairman Yoweri Museveni to stand down for Jacob Oulanya. This made Nsereko the most popular name on Thursday in Kampala and the rest of Uganda.
But after losing the election, what is his next step? In his concession speech, Nsereko promised to keep fighting, to retain the country from the current hands. He also promised to work closely with the office of the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. The question is as whom if not deputy speaker?
We expect Hon. Nsereko to earn himself space on different committees of parliament and continue his tenure as a member of the 10th parliament, but again, if he ever makes it, expect him to vie for the speakership role in the next parliament. Will he be able to win? Time will tell.
