On Sunday afternoon, Museveni summoned NRM legislators to State House Entebbe to harmonize the party position on the election of the deputy speaker. During the meeting, Museveni reportedly asked Nsereko to step down from the race in favor of Oulanyah.
However, Nsereko is reported to have refused, saying the party should allow them to compete favorably. His decision angered Museveni, who accused him of undermining the party and asked him to leave the meeting and never return to the caucus.
"The president stated that he and Nsereko were not above the party but the MP refused to budge. Museveni then ordered his security personnel to kick him out," the source revealed. Another MP told URN on condition of anonymity that Museveni was bitter over what he termed as disrespect by Nsereko, even after being cajoled with promises of future opportunities.
"The President asked him to leave the race, assuring him that there are other positions in future. His blatant refusal only angered Museveni who ordered him out," the MP confided to URN. Efforts to get a comment from Nsereko on phone were futile.
He however, posted a comment on his Facebook wall, saying he had declined to step down in favor of Oulanyah. "I have respectfully disagreed and clearly state that I shall offer myself as a candidate for the position of deputy speaker," he stated in brief statement.
The refusal by Nsereko to quit the race means he will face off with Oulanyah on May 19th for the position of deputy speaker. Initially, Oulanyah had expressed interest to contest for the position of speaker, but he was forced by the NRM central executive committee to drop his ambitions.