Uganda’s parliamentary leadership contest has taken a decisive turn after General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa will retain his position in the next Parliament.
The announcement comes a day after Speaker Anita Among signaled her withdrawal from the Speakership race, triggering fresh political realignments within the ruling establishment and its allied blocs.
In his statement on Tuesday, Muhoozi framed the decision as part of a coordinated position guided by the country’s top leadership and internal consultations within the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), which he leads.
“On the issue of Deputy Speaker, after getting guidance from the Commander-in-Chief, all PLU MPs and PLU leaning MPs will support Rt.Honourable Thomas Tayebwa for that position. Congratulations Rt.Honourable.”
The endorsement effectively consolidates support for Tayebwa, who has served as Deputy Speaker since 2022, and now appears positioned as the preferred candidate for continuity in the parliamentary leadership structure.
The reference to guidance from the Commander-in-Chief signals alignment with President Yoweri Museveni’s political direction, a factor that continues to shape succession politics within the legislature.
The PLU’s position adds another layer to ongoing negotiations within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), where internal consensus has been sought on key leadership slots ahead of the formation of the 12th Parliament.
Analysts say such endorsements from influential political actors often serve to streamline decision-making within the ruling coalition, especially in high-stakes positions like the Speakership and Deputy Speakership.
Tayebwa’s endorsement follows a broader reshuffle in the Speakership race, where competing interests have been recalibrating after Anita Among’s indication that she would step aside.
Her exit has left a vacuum at the top of Parliament’s leadership, prompting renewed competition and strategic positioning among senior legislators.