AMOLATAR – The race for the coveted Amolatar District Speaker seat has intensified, with a fifth candidate officially throwing his hat into the ring. Agwingiri Sub-county LC5 Councillor Sam Obua Kony Pacu has declared his speakership bid, promising to transform the August House into a neutral, transparent, and inclusive chamber, with a rallying slogan that is already resonating across the council chambers: “Our Welfare, Our Priority.”
Obua, who joins a growing list of aspirants, made the declaration while addressing fellow district councillors, urging them to back his quest for what he termed “greater, inclusive development for the people of Amolatar.”
His entry brings the total number of contestants to five. The other candidates in the race include:
- · Patrick Eumu (Male Workers’ Representative)
- · Dorcus Aciro (Amolatar Town Council Female District Councillor)
- · Kizito Okao (Agikdak Sub-county LC5 Councillor)
- · Plus two other candidates previously in the race
A Pledge for a Balanced and Neutral August House
In a political environment often characterized by sharp divisions between ruling and opposition camps, Obua positioned himself as a unifier. His top agenda, he explained, is to ensure a “balanced August House” where the speaker’s chair does not lean towards any faction.
“I am not entering this race for status or to serve any individual interest. My mission is clear: to guide this council with the highest level of integrity, respecting the voice of every district councillor, regardless of their political leaning or the sub-county they represent,” Obua told reporters.
He emphasized that the next speaker must be a neutral referee, not a player. Key pillars of his proposed leadership include:
- · Transparency in all house proceedings.
- · Free accountability mechanisms where councillors can freely question executive decisions.
- · Inclusive decision-making that involves all people’s representatives before major resolutions are passed.
‘Our Welfare, Our Priority’: A Slogan with Teeth
In a rare and direct appeal that drew loud applause from his colleagues, Obua broke ranks with the typical speakership rhetoric by zeroing in on the long-neglected issue of councillors’ welfare. His slogan, “Our Welfare, Our Priority,” was chanted back by supporters in the audience.
“I look into the councillors’ welfare. For a long time now, no one seems to bother about councillors’ allowances. Our welfare, our priority—that is not just a slogan. It is a binding promise,” Obua declared.
He cited a recent painful example that still lingers in the minds of many in the House. “Take the recently concluded Easter period—councillors went without getting their allowances for the last two sittings. That made life very difficult for councillors and their families. How can someone effectively serve the people when they cannot even meet their basic needs at home?”
Obua promised that under his speakership, he would not only preside fairly but also use his office to ensure that all approved allowances are processed and paid on time. “A motivated councillor is a productive councillor. I will fight for your financial dignity. Again I say: our welfare, our priority,” he assured.
The Role of the District Speaker: More Than Just a Chair
To contextualize his bid, Obua highlighted the often misunderstood but critical role of the district speaker. Under the Local Governments Act, the district speaker is not merely a ceremonial figure but the guardian of council proceedings.
Key roles of the district speaker include:
- Presiding over all council sessions and maintaining order.
- Interpreting the standing orders of the council.
- Acting as a neutral arbiter between the executive (headed by the District Chairperson) and the councillors.
- Casting a tie-breaking vote when necessary, but always with the council’s interest at heart.
- Overseeing the accountability sessions of the district council.
