Daudi Kabanda's Political Acumen: A Pattern of Ousting Rivals

Despite a modest educational background, Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for political maneuvering, often anticipating and capitalizing on shifts in power. His early political career in Sembabule District saw him align with different factions, securing positions and influence through strategic alliances.

A pivotal moment came in 2012 when Kabanda, suspecting then-Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s presidential ambitions, initiated clandestine meetings to counter Mbabazi’s growing influence within the NRM Youth League. This move eventually contributed to the suspension of key Mbabazi allies and, indirectly, to Mbabazi’s own dismissal from his government positions.

Kabanda’s strategic interventions extended to the Speakership races. In 2021, he played a role in the camp that supported Jacob Oulanyah against the incumbent Rebecca Kadaga. More recently, in 2026, Kabanda publicly announced the revocation of an endorsement by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) that had favored Anita Among for Speaker. This action preceded Among being advised not to contest, marking his third major political scalp.

Kabanda’s political trajectory suggests a pattern of identifying potential threats to the President Museveni’s power base and executing strategies to neutralize them, often with significant political consequences for his targets. His methods, while sometimes controversial, have consistently placed him at the center of key political realignments within Uganda.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-kabanda-outsmarted-mbabazi-kadaga-among-5502782