Decoding Mao's Strategic Appearance at NRM's Kyankwanzi Retreat

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus retreat in Kyankwanzi, set to conclude on April 15, has drawn attention for including Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao. As Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister following a 2022 deal with President Museveni, Mao is positioning himself to challenge Speaker Anita Among.

Mao’s presence underscores Museveni’s effort to appear as a leader embracing diverse parties and ethnicities, reminiscent of the 1986 broad-based government. Analysts like Yusuf Serunkuma see it as a calculated move to market inclusivity.

Among’s supporters, including Ofwono Opondo, dismiss Mao’s candidacy due to DP’s limited parliamentary seats—only six—and argue his cooperation agreement is personal with Museveni, not the NRM. Opondo insists NRM will prioritize a loyal party member for Speaker to maintain discipline.

Mao frames his bid as a crusade against parliamentary corruption, questioning MPs’ unexplained wealth. This contrasts with his 2024 defense of Among against youth protests over her alleged Shs3 billion foreign travel spending and UK sanctions linked to iron sheet theft in Karamoja.

Among attributed Western sanctions to backlash over the Anti-Homosexuality Act, vowing resilience. Historical precedents, like the fallout in Museveni’s early broad-based coalition—including the arrest and killing of Energy minister Andrew Lutakome Kayiira—highlight risks of such alliances.

At Kyankwanzi, Mao aims to sway NRM legislators, the key electoral college, as the Speaker race intertwines with broader succession dynamics.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)