Veteran journalist and political commentator Andrew Mwenda has weighed in on the unfolding political dynamics surrounding the race for Speaker of Parliament, stating that current Speaker Anita Among remains a formidable contender despite growing pressure within the ruling establishment and shifting endorsements.
Mwenda, who also serves as Director of Communications for the Patriotic League Uganda (PLU), made the remarks on Thursday during a podcast discussion where he dissected the implications of PLU’s withdrawal of support for Among and the reported endorsement of outgoing Defence Minister Oboth Oboth by CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
According to Mwenda, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) had initially settled on maintaining the current parliamentary leadership.
“The NRM made a decision to the effect that the current speaker and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa would stay in their positions,” he said.
However, he noted that recent public scrutiny and political pressure have forced a reconsideration of that position. He pointed to corruption allegations and public controversies as key drivers of the shift in sentiment.
“Then there has been a lot of pressure on the president and the NRM not to return the speaker for the reasons everyone knows; you saw the news that she bought a car worth 1 million dollars and that at the inauguration ceremony, the dress she was wearing was worth $11,000,” Mwenda said.
He argued that such concerns have intensified political pressure on the presidency, influencing internal deliberations within the ruling party.
“There has been so much pressure on the president to the effect that you have this person in place who has been sanctioned and who has all these issues and allegations of corruption, why are you keeping her there? I think that pressure has induced the president to reevaluate his position,” he added.
Mwenda also addressed PLU’s recent political recalibration, noting that the movement’s withdrawal of support for Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa does not necessarily eliminate her from contention.
“The PLU said its previous endorsement of the speaker and her deputy was retracted and that it would follow the direction of the president. That, therefore, does not rule her out of the race,” he said.
He added that the situation reflects growing competition within the NRM over key parliamentary leadership positions.
“What it shows is that inside the NRM there is contestation over that job because previously, Among and Tayebwa were to be anointed, now the doors are being opened so that there is a contest to test their veracity,” Mwenda said.
Despite the shifting political alliances, Mwenda maintained that if the speakership race were conducted through a free and open parliamentary vote, Among would still command overwhelming support.
“But if allowed to remain in the race as appears to be the case at the moment, I can tell you, no one can defeat Anita Among. She is so strong in that parliament,” he said.
Mwenda further described Among as one of Uganda’s most politically skilled figures, attributing her influence to both strategic networks and her personal alliances.
“One of the greatest politicians Uganda has produced who has skill to rally people behind her with the exception of Museveni, is Anita Among,” he stated.
He went on to suggest that her political reach extends across party lines, predicting a decisive victory should she contest in an unrestricted vote.
“If they open that vote and Anita is contesting, she will get the entire opposition to vote for her…she will get 90% of the parliament. If she doesn't withdraw it will be bloody,” Mwenda warned.