A fierce and unusually crowded race for the leadership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament is taking shape, drawing in a record number of contenders and raising fresh questions about the influence of power and wealth in the country’s legislative politics.
At least eight candidates are reportedly eyeing the Speaker’s position, while the contest for Deputy Speaker has attracted no fewer than 16 aspirants — the highest number in recent parliamentary history.
The surge has come despite, or perhaps because of, the dramatic political and financial fallout that engulfed former Speaker Anita Among.
Veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo argues that the unfolding contest reflects deeper structural incentives tied to the office, rather than caution arising from recent controversies.
Leading the Speaker race is Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth, widely viewed as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) establishment’s preferred candidate.
He faces competition from Justice Minister Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party, National Unity Platform’s Paul Mwiru, and other figures including Fox Odoi and Persis Namuganza, who are seen as either independent or NRM-leaning.
On the Deputy Speaker side, incumbent Thomas Tayebwa is seeking to retain his seat but faces a crowded and fragmented field.
Among those in the mix are Edward Makmot Otto, Jackson Kafuuzi, and Lydia Wanyoto, reflecting both intra-party competition within the NRM and interest from independent-leaning actors.
Onyango-Obbo observes that the scale of the contest signals how attractive the parliamentary leadership positions have become, particularly following public scrutiny of the financial privileges associated with the Speaker’s office.
“The exposure of large service awards and allowances did not discourage ambition,” he notes in his analysis. “Instead, it appears to have revealed the extent of influence and resources tied to the office, effectively turning it into one of the most coveted political positions in the country.”
According to the journalist, rather than deterring aspirants, the controversy surrounding Among may have inadvertently “advertised” the office’s benefits — from control over parliamentary processes to access to significant state resources and patronage networks.
He adds that many of the current contenders may believe they can avoid the pitfalls that led to Among’s downfall by adopting a more cautious political approach.
This includes maintaining closer alignment with the Executive, avoiding public displays of excess, and operating with greater discretion.
The result, Onyango-Obbo argues, is a paradox: a political scandal that might typically reduce interest in a powerful office has instead intensified competition for it.
The coming months are expected to test the cohesion of the ruling NRM, as multiple candidates from within its ranks compete for the same positions.
At the same time, opposition and independent candidates are positioning themselves to exploit any divisions that may emerge.
As Uganda heads toward the formation of its 12th Parliament, the battle for the Speakership and Deputy Speakership is shaping up not just as a contest of personalities, but as a reflection of the enduring link between political power, influence, and access to state resources.