Tense Meeting at State House: Museveni, Among Discuss Speaker Race

A significant meeting, reportedly tense but productive, took place at State House, Entebbe, involving President Yoweri Museveni, government officials, and religious leaders. The primary focus of the two-hour discussion was the endorsement of Speaker Anita Among and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, for their positions.

The crux of the debate stemmed from a specific clause in a February 20, 2026, National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) resolution. While the resolution initially forwarded the names of the incumbent Speaker and Deputy Speaker for adoption by the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, a concluding phrase suggested that “any issues that arise shall be addressed on merit.” This opened the door for a potential review of the earlier endorsement.

Sources suggest that the CEC’s February resolution, signed by President Museveni and party Secretary General Richard Todwong, is now subject to reconsideration. This development follows a shift in stance from the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), led by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, which has revoked its support for Among and Tayebwa, urging its affiliated MPs to follow the President’s guidance.

President Museveni himself had previously indicated that the NRM CEC would revisit the endorsement, acknowledging that while the committee recommended maintaining the incumbents, the final decision rests with the party’s deliberative processes.

Among those present were First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who reportedly provided insights into financial procedures from her tenure as Speaker, and Bishop Anthony Zziwa and Bishop Moses Odongo. Reports also indicate that one politician faced accusations of corruption and questionable associations.

Following the meeting, it is understood that members of the ruling party have been quietly encouraged to mobilize support for West Budama Central MP Jacob Oboth Oboth, potentially signaling his entry into the race for Speaker.

Meanwhile, at least five legislators have openly declared their intention to contest the Speaker position, challenging the established leadership. The election process for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, as per parliamentary rules and the Constitution, involves a secret ballot among Members of Parliament, requiring a majority vote.

This meeting and the subsequent indications of a shift in NRM’s stance come at a critical juncture for the party as it navigates the leadership contest for Parliament. The ultimate recommendations from this meeting are expected to be made public soon.

This story was originally reported by the Daily Monitor newspaper.