When Hon. Mao declared his bid for the Speakership seat, the people who were sharing the alleged looted money with former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among quickly laughed at Norbert Mao, calling him a joker.
They even went ahead and spent a lot of money to buy off some DP supporters to castigate Norbert Mao and call him funny names.
But the man from Acholi never gave up on his bid, and while contesting, his interest was to revive the lost glory of Parliament.
As the campaign for the Speakership intensified, some MPs from Acholi also disowned him. Others said that was the end of Hon. Mao, forgetting that Mao’s name was already written in the righteous book of President Museveni.
During the election for Speaker, Mao pulled 15 votes, while Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth pulled 441 votes, and Paul Mwiru pulled 60 votes.
To my surprise, I later read comments from some people laughing at Mao, saying his political career was finished. Shortly afterward, President Museveni released the list of his Cabinet ministers and, surprisingly, Hon. Norbert Mao’s name was included — not as a State Minister, but as the Cabinet Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Now those who had been shouting that Mao’s future had ended are confused. In fact, some of their faces now look like those of a person seeking a loan from someone brushing their teeth with ground charcoal instead of Colgate.
I would like to congratulate my elder brother, Hon. Norbert Mao, upon your appointment. The President knew very well that the ministry is sensitive and requires brains like yours. Thanks also to Mr. President for the appointment. Long live President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The writer, Steven Ariong, is a senior veteran journalist.
