Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has said he will wait for guidance from President Yoweri Museveni on whether he will seek to retain his position in the 12th Parliament, as the race for parliamentary leadership continues to shift amid fresh political realignments.
Speaking to journalists shortly after taking oath as Ruhinda County Member of Parliament, Tayebwa responded to growing speculation over his political future following reports of changes in support within ruling establishment-linked blocs, including the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
The developments have seen earlier endorsements for Speaker Anita Annet Among and her deputy Tayebwa reportedly withdrawn, with attention shifting toward Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth, who has recently received public backing from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba on social media.
Against that backdrop, Tayebwa was pressed on whether he would defend his Deputy Speaker position in the next Parliament.
In his response, he framed his political direction as fully dependent on party and presidential guidance, emphasizing discipline within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) structure.
“On that issue, I want to thank the President, who first of all gave me an opportunity to serve as Government Chief. And thereafter, he promoted me and I served as Deputy Speaker. Now, my duty as a true cadre of the party is to wait for further instructions from him. And I have to dutifully and 100% comply with whatever instructions he gives me,” he said.
Tayebwa’s remarks come at a time when behind-the-scenes negotiations are intensifying ahead of the opening of the 12th Parliament, where key leadership positions—including Speaker and Deputy Speaker—are expected to be decided through a mix of party consensus and internal power alignment.
Political observers say the shifting endorsements signal an early recalibration within influential circles, with attention now focused on how the ruling party will harmonize competing interests before the final parliamentary vote.
While Tayebwa has been widely viewed as a strong contender to retain the Deputy Speaker role, recent developments have introduced uncertainty, particularly after signals emerged suggesting that the Deputy Speaker position could be reserved for a woman in the next Parliament.
However, no formal nominations have been released, and final decisions are expected to be made through internal party structures before MPs proceed to elect their leadership.