Norbert Mao’s entry into the race for Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament is less about securing the chair and more about repositioning himself within the country’s power structure, political commentator Wilfred Businge has argued.
As the contest intensifies, Mao’s move is now being interpreted as a strategic gamble aimed at expanding his influence beyond the Justice and Constitutional Affairs docket.
Mao, who currently serves as Justice Minister and leads the Democratic Party, has publicly framed his bid around institutional reforms, accountability, and strengthening Parliament’s oversight role.
However, Businge suggests the timing and manner of the announcement reveal deeper political calculations.
“Norbert Mao has played his hand well,” Businge said, describing the bid as a deliberate attempt to shake the political table. “He found the Justice and Constitutional Affairs docket too small for his ambitions, so he threw a stone into the bush and stepped back to see what scurries out.”
According to Businge, Mao’s decision to join a crowded and highly competitive race—dominated by candidates with backing from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)—was never a straightforward pursuit of the Speakership.
Instead, it was designed to elevate his bargaining power within government circles ahead of future political negotiations.
“It was a clearly calculated flex to boost his bargaining power,” Businge noted. “He’s now positioned himself for a much bigger role in the next cabinet.”
The Speaker’s position remains one of the most powerful offices in Uganda, sitting just behind the President and Vice President in the national hierarchy.
The race has attracted multiple high-profile contenders and shifting alliances, with reports indicating that the ruling party has been consolidating support around preferred candidates.
Despite these dynamics, Mao has maintained that he is still firmly in the race, dismissing claims that the outcome has already been decided.
He has also distanced his candidacy from alleged backing by influential figures within the military and political establishment, insisting his bid is independent.
Businge argues that whether Mao ultimately secures the Speakership or not may be beside the point. The mere act of contesting has already amplified his political relevance at a critical moment.
“Ego or strategy, either way, he knows how to make the jungle rumble,” Businge said.
With Uganda’s political landscape entering another phase of transition, Mao’s maneuver signals a broader contest not just for parliamentary leadership, but for positioning ahead of future cabinet formations and power alignments.