The Woman Member of Parliament-elect for Mbale City, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, has said she will respect the position of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) on the forthcoming race for Speaker of Parliament.
Wanyoto made the remarks while hosting Muslim leaders and faithful for an iftar dinner at her office in Malukhu, part of a thanksgiving event following her recent electoral victory.
Addressing the gathering, Wanyoto thanked the Muslim community for their support, recalling that during last year's Ramadan prayers, the Eastern Region Khadi had prayed that the next Ramadan would find her victorious.
"I am glad that I got a decisive victory," Wanyoto said, adding that she remained grateful to the people of Mbale City for entrusting her with leadership.
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Wanyoto also revealed that the dinner fulfilled a pledge she made during a similar event last year to host the Muslim community again this year, regardless of the election outcome.
"I promised that whether I won or lost, I would still host you again this Ramadan. Today I am grateful to welcome you back as a duly elected MP," she said.
While reiterating her interest in the parliamentary speakership, Wanyoto emphasized that she would wait for the official position of the NRM party before taking the next step.
"I wrote to the president, who is yet to meet us in Kyankwanzi before we go for the party caucus, where we shall decide who will be speaker," Wanyoto said.
"I remain respectful to my fellow contenders. I have all that it takes to be speaker, but I urge you to accept whatever the party decides."
The event was attended by several Muslim clerics and political leaders, including the Eastern Regional Khadi, Ahmad Wandega.
Wanyoto also used the occasion to call for unity among leaders in Mbale City, saying cooperation among elected officials would be key to improving service delivery and advancing development in the city.
She welcomed fellow MPs and city council leaders, pledging to work together for the benefit of residents.
In his remarks, Wandega described Wanyoto as a resilient and determined leader who deserved the trust placed in her by the electorate.
He prayed for her continued elevation in leadership beyond the parliamentary position.
The regional Khadi also thanked voters in Mbale City for overwhelmingly supporting the NRM and President Museveni in the recent elections, noting that the outcome reflected growing confidence in the party's leadership.
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The iftar dinner brought together Muslim clerics, political leaders, and community members in a show of unity as the holy month of Ramathan continues.
