Secret Campaigns for Speaker and Deputy Speaker are reeling NRM’s retreat despite the Deputy Secretary General’s denial that the Speaker’s election is not a subject of discussion at Kyankwanzi.
Richard Tadwong told the media as newly elected MP gathered at Kyankwanzi that Kadaga and Oulanyah were not on the party’s agenda.
The two had been left behind since incumbent MPs were directed to stay in Kampala and finish the work before the new lawmakers are sworn in.
The two rivals, despite being part of the party’s 27-member Central Executive Committee (CEC), were expected to continue with the parliamentary business.
However, Hon Oulanyah who seeks to overthrow Kadaga attended the retreat the day President Museveni officially opened it.
Earlier, Museveni suspended the Speaker’s campaigns saying they were creating more confusion since different camps had already engaged high gear while throwing strong political statements against each other.
In a meeting attended by both Oulanyah and Kadaga, and also deputy speaker contenders, Museveni instructed that campaigns stop until the Attorney General advises on next step.
Before he intervened, agents of Kadaga and Oulanyah had verbally ripped themselves apart with both factions issuing stinging rebukes.
TrumpetNews has reliably been informed that although the President banned the campaigns, agents of the duo are covertly canvassing support for their candidates.
“Some agents who are known have been approaching new MPs during interactions and discussions and asking them to vote their candidates,” said an official at Kyankwanzi.
Those leading the underground campaigns, according to a source are some of the CEC members.
“For example Lydia Wanyoto is a supporter of Jacob Oulanyah. And she tells new MPs to vote wisely,” said a source.
“For Kadaga, she has many proxies who are rigorously campaigning. These new MPs have been promised foreign trips and favours like speaking on the floor of Parliament if they vote for her,” a source added.
Efforts to reach the NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo who is also attending the retreat were unsuccessful as his known mobile phone number was off.
Against that backdrop, candidates eying deputy speakership also identified agents to mobilize for them quietly.
TrumpetNews understands that so far Hon Anita Among and Hon Thomas Tayebwa have rallied agents to mobilize for them massively.