Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister and Democratic Party leader Norbert Mao has drawn attention to the National Resistance Movement’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), describing its 14-member leadership as a decisive force in determining the next Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
In a statement accompanied by a photo of the CEC leadership, Mao suggested that the committee’s recommendation will carry significant weight in shaping the outcome of the highly competitive parliamentary leadership contest.
He noted that the same structure had previously made decisions that were later influenced by public pressure.
“These are the 14 people who will make the final recommendation of who should be Speaker of Parliament,” Mao stated.
“Their previous recommendation gave way to the pressure of public opinion. Today they will either be true or false to the same public sentiment. They need our prayers.”
He further added that the greatest responsibility lies with what he referred to as “the old man with a hat,” a clear reference to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whom he described as holding a mandate backed by a large section of Ugandans.
The remarks come at a time when political attention is focused on succession dynamics within Parliament, where incumbent leaders are being weighed against new contenders.
Mao himself has been mentioned among those interested in the Speaker position, adding another layer of political complexity to the unfolding race.
The debate has also been intensified by endorsements from the Patriotic League Uganda (PLU), headed by Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The group has publicly backed current Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa for Speaker and Works Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth for Deputy Speaker.
The endorsements have sparked discussion in political circles, with observers questioning the growing influence of PLU in shaping parliamentary leadership outcomes.
Analysts say the alignment of military-linked political networks with parliamentary succession contests could reshape internal power balances within the ruling establishment.
As the contest takes shape, attention now turns to whether the CEC’s eventual recommendation will reflect internal party consensus, external political pressure, or a blend of both.
The outcome is expected to set the tone for the next phase of leadership within Uganda’s Parliament, amid heightened scrutiny of party influence and institutional independence.