As the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament gathers momentum, political analyst Sentamu Sewandagi Mukasa has cast doubt on the chances of Laroo-Pece MP-elect and DP President General Norbert Mao, describing him as a highly qualified candidate but unlikely to secure the speakership under Museveni’s government.
Speaking on the ongoing contest during an exclusive interview with Mulengera News, Sewandagi said Mao possesses credentials that go beyond the speakership, arguing that he is better suited for the presidency than the role he is currently seeking.
According to Him (Sewandagi), Mao’s intellectual capacity and political experience place him above the office of Speaker, but prevailing political realities make it difficult for him to attain either position at the moment.
Sewandagi maintained that the Justice and Constitutional affairs minister’s chances of becoming Speaker largely depend on the position of President Yoweri Museveni, suggesting that without the President’s backing, the bid faces significant obstacles.
He said there is no clear indication that Museveni is currently supporting Mao for the role, remarks which come amid growing speculation about Mao’s political trajectory, including claims that his return to elective politics may have been influenced by Museveni himself, claims recently recently raised by veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda during a discussion on The Bad Native podcast, which he co-hosts with Robert Kabushenga and is hosted by Charles Onyango Obbo.
Mwenda suggested that Museveni could have encouraged Mao to contest for the Laroo-Pece parliamentary seat, instead of pursuing a presidential bid that had reportedly been gaining traction within DP corridors where some members were already mobilizing signatures for him to run stand against his boss (Museveni).
According to the senior journalist, such a move could have been part of a broader strategy to position Mao for the speakership once he entered Parliament, with the possibility of quiet backing from the President.
However, Sewandagi said while the theory can’t be entirely dismissed, its likelihood remains low, noting that such a scenario would only make sense in the context of a planned and controlled political transition, where Mao could play a stabilizing role. Even then, Sewandagi said, the probability remains minimal.
To illustrate his point, Sewandagi used a biblical metaphor, comparing Mao’s chances of becoming Speaker to “a rich man entering heaven,” describing it as extremely difficult under the current regime.
He argued that President Museveni relies heavily on Parliament to advance his agenda and is therefore unlikely to support a candidate he views as independent-minded or difficult to control, saying a person as knowledgeable as Mao would make it harder for the President to run Parliament the way he wants.
He further pointed to the numerical muscle of the NRM in Parliament, saying this alone significantly reduces Mao’s chances, even if all opposition and independent MPs were to vote for him.
Sewandagi added that, traditionally, NRM MPs are often convened and guided on key decisions, suggesting that a final position from the party leadership would likely determine the outcome from Kololo. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
