A high-level meeting held on Thursday afternoon at State House brought together President Yoweri Museveni, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, and senior religious leaders in what officials described as a reconciliatory engagement, even as political competition for the parliamentary speakership intensifies.
Among the prominent religious figures present were Bishop Anthony Zziwa of the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana and Bishop Moses Odongo, the head of the Born-Again Pentecostal churches in Uganda.
The meeting, which ended shortly after 3pm, also included other senior State House and political actors, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.
A State House official said the inclusion of religious leaders was deliberate, stressing that the engagement was designed to foster dialogue and calm growing political tensions within the ruling establishment following the recent swearing-in of Members of Parliament.
The official maintained that the discussions were centered on reconciliation and unity rather than active political lobbying.
However, emerging accounts from individuals aware of the behind-the-scenes dynamics suggest that the meeting also touched on internal political alignments ahead of the speakership race, which has been gaining momentum in recent weeks.
According to these accounts, members of the ruling party were quietly advised to begin mobilising support for West Budama Central MP Jacob Oboth Oboth in anticipation of the contest.
The developments come at a time when political positioning within Parliament has intensified, with key figures lobbying for influence in the next leadership structure of the House.
Despite the political interpretations, State House has maintained that the meeting should not be viewed through an electoral or factional lens.
Presidential Press Secretary Sandor Walusimbi told the Daily Monitor that he was not aware of the meeting, distancing the communications office from speculation surrounding its purpose. Daily Monitor.
The presence of both political leaders and clergy has, however, drawn attention to the delicate balancing act within the ruling establishment as it navigates succession dynamics in parliamentary leadership.
Analysts note that such engagements often signal broader consultations ahead of key parliamentary decisions, even when officially framed as peace-building or reconciliatory efforts.
With the speakership race expected to dominate early parliamentary politics, the State House meeting is likely to fuel further debate about emerging alliances and internal strategies within the ruling party in the days ahead.