Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda has offered a sharp assessment of the political troubles facing Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, linking her current investigations and withdrawal from the speakership race to what he describes as the risks of concentrated influence within Uganda’s power structure.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television, Mwenda argued that Among’s rapid rise and consolidation of authority may have contributed to her current predicament, suggesting that political success in Uganda often comes with internal competition and scrutiny.
“Anita Among made the mistake of accumulating so much power and influence. She is a victim of her own success,” Mwenda said.
Among has recently been at the centre of heightened political pressure, including a corruption-related probe that has involved searches at her residences and scrutiny of her parliamentary offices.
The developments have come at a politically sensitive moment, coinciding with internal manoeuvres within the ruling establishment ahead of the speakership contest.
Mwenda, however, questioned the selective nature of anti-corruption enforcement, arguing that public attention tends to focus on specific figures while broader accountability gaps remain unaddressed across the political system.
“If you talk about corruption, how many people have stolen money in Uganda? There are people who have taken out of Uganda much more money and they haven’t been attacked,” he said.
The journalist’s remarks add to a growing debate in Uganda over whether the ongoing investigations reflect genuine anti-corruption enforcement or shifting political dynamics within the ruling elite.
Critics of the process argue that the timing and intensity of the probe raise questions about political motivation, while others maintain that accountability measures are long overdue.
Among’s decision to step back from the speakership race has further reshaped the parliamentary leadership contest, opening space for new alignments within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Her exit is widely seen as a significant development in Parliament’s internal power balance, given her previously strong backing within party structures.