Politics 24 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Salaam Musumba: Among Caught in NRM Succession Battle Fallout
Veteran politician Salaama Musumba suggests that the investigations into former Speaker Anita Among are a symptom of internal power struggles within the ruling NRM, rather than a mere anti-corruption drive. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/salaam-musumba-says-among-became-casualty-of-nrm-internal-power-battles-5471844
Salaam Musumba, a prominent figure in the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has asserted that the intensifying scrutiny of former Speaker Anita Among is deeply rooted in Uganda’s ongoing political transition and internal power plays within the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Speaking on a local radio program, Musumba argued that the investigations, which have involved raids on Among’s properties and probes into alleged unexplained wealth, are not solely about tackling corruption. Instead, she characterized the situation as a raw fight for power, with the 12th Parliament reportedly being shaped by survival tactics and Among becoming a “casualty specimen” of these shifts.
Musumba cautioned the public against viewing these developments as a straightforward anti-corruption crusade, labeling it “mob justice disguised as accountability.” She suggested that the emergence of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), linked to Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has significantly disrupted the NRM’s internal political landscape. According to her, the party focused on weakening opposition while neglecting internal cohesion, and with the “contract” on figures like Among expiring, the PLU represents a new order.
The politician also commented on the trend of individuals keeping large sums of cash at home, attributing it to a lack of trust in NRM financial monitoring systems and the suspicion that falls on politically exposed persons once their accounts are flagged.
Similar sentiments were echoed by radio callers and online commentators. Some drew parallels between Among’s current predicament and the political downfall of former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, suggesting a pattern where powerful figures within the ruling party are eventually reined in. There is speculation that the leadership of the 12th Parliament may have already been decided in closed-door meetings, with the “political heir” already in control.