Speaker of Parliament: Acholi MPs won’t vote for Mao – Anthony Akol

Democratic Party President Norbert Mao is aiming to become the country’s Number 3 in May.

For his speakership dream to pass, Mao, who won the Gulu City’s Pece-Laroo Division MP seat in the January 15 poll, will require more than hard work or lobbying.

Currently serving as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mao, as things stand, is receiving no backing from his Acholi MPs.

“Mao will not, and will never be Speaker of Parliament,” says the Acholi Parliamentary Group chairperson, Anthony Akol.

Akol, speaking during the Voice of Lango’s Wimeja program on February 16, stated that even if Acholi MPs were to vote for Mao, he would still be defeated by Annet Anita Among.

“As Acholi MPs, we are only 28 as opposed to over 30 in Teso,” he said. The speakership contest, Akol urged “should not be taken as a tribal contest.”

Mao has only 6 votes, compared to over 400 for NRM in the 12th Parliament, Akol, who crossed from FDC to NRM last year, said.

“If ever Mao contests for speakership, it should never bring disunity in Acholi and Lango,” MP Akol emphasised.

NRM CEC has already decided on a speakership with Among and Tayebwa, the APG chairperson revealed on the same radio program.

MP Akol said that whereas Mao and his DP party and NRM have a cooperation agreement with the ruling party, it’s not penned down on key elective positions – Speaker of Parliament is one.

Saying he’s not seen a copy of the said agreement, Akol added that NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong made it clear that the agreement between DP and NRM is on appointments.

Todwong could not be reached by tndNews, Uganda by press time to expound on the agreement.

Who is Mao?

Born on 12 March 1967, Mao attended Mwiri Primary School in Jinja and went to Wairaka College in Jinja district before attending Namilyango College in Mukono district from 1982 until 1988.

He then attended Makerere University from 1988 until 1991, graduating with a law degree.

In 1996, he was elected to Parliament, representing Gulu Municipality. While in parliament, he served on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.

He resigned from Parliament in 2006 and was elected chairman of Gulu District.