The contest for the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) Woman seat between former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and her successor, Anita Among, has ignited quiet but fierce undercurrents within the ruling party. It is a race that has not only divided loyalties but also drawn in President Yoweri Museveni, exposing the deep fault lines within the NRM power structure.
Kadaga, once considered untouchable in Busoga politics, now finds herself on shaky ground. Her political woes are tied to the 2021 general election, where the NRM suffered a humiliating defeat in Busoga sub-region. The National Unity Platform (NUP), then a rising force under Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), swept constituencies in a region that had long been considered an NRM stronghold. This collapse was interpreted by the NRM establishment as a failure of Kadaga’s political stewardship, casting doubt on her ability to deliver both at the constituency and national level.
The contrast with the late Jacob Oulanyah could not be more striking. As Speaker and a trusted mobiliser, Oulanyah delivered resounding victories for the NRM in Acholi and Lango sub-regions, traditionally seen as politically fluid.
His coordination, charisma, and loyalty to the NRM machinery gave the ruling party a much-needed buffer against the surging opposition. In Acholi, the NRM’s gains under Oulanyah stood as a direct rebuke to Kadaga’s poor performance in Busoga, amplifying questions about her relevance in Museveni’s long-term strategy.
It is against this backdrop that Anita Among enters the fray with what appears to be a decisive advantage. Among has cultivated strong ties with the President, positioning herself as a loyalist who not only respects party structures but also reads the mood within State House.
Her meteoric rise to the speakership after Oulanyah’s death demonstrated both her political agility and Museveni’s willingness to back leaders who toe the NRM line.
Tensions over this contest boiled over recently during an NRM NEC meeting, where Museveni and Kadaga clashed openly over the vice chair race. Kadaga, visibly emotional, reminded delegates:
“I was publicly humiliated when I was removed as Speaker, and I took it in good stride. How much more can you push an individual? I have been a member of this party since inception and my loyalty cannot be questioned. I started as an LC1 Chairperson in 1999. I have never joined any other party.”
Her remarks drew applause from sections of the delegates as she warned against bending party rules. She added that the contender against her had only served three years, while she had a decade of service at the highest level:
“When we fill the express interest forms we are asked about what we have done for the Party in the last 10 years. The mishandling of this matter would lead to divisions. Mr. Chairman, if this goes to a contest, it will cause serious problems in the community. You may think you are fighting me, but instead you are fighting a community.”
Museveni, however, was quick to push back. “Rebecca, you do not own Busoga and you were not there when I was working with the previous kings, so you should sit down,” the President interjected.
He stressed that candidates had been persuaded to step down voluntarily and none had been coerced:
“As CEC, our role is to study and advise, not to force anyone, save for legal reasons where CEC can disqualify a candidate. I proposed that one of the two steps down for the other but they both refused to be guided. Since no one is willing, let the people decide at the delegates’ conference.”
Kadaga also questioned Anita Among’s bid, pointing out that the Speaker already sits in CEC as an ex-officio member: “If she is already here, why is she running again to sit in two positions? This sends a wrong signal about fairness in our party.” She warned that pushing out senior leaders for newcomers could damage party cohesion and alienate long-serving cadres.
Yet, in the eyes of the President and the NRM top brass, Kadaga’s appeal appears less persuasive. Her decision to defy Museveni’s preferred succession plan in 2021, and the infamous Hotel Africana press conference where she declared her isolation, remain political scars.
With the Busoga vote still fractured and her national influence waning, Kadaga faces an uphill task in reclaiming relevance. Unlike Among, who enjoys the confidence of State House, Kadaga looks increasingly isolated. The weight of history – from the NRM’s losses in Busoga to her public fallout with Museveni – makes her candidacy appear less a political revival and more a fight for survival.
As the race for the NRM CEC Woman seat gathers steam, one thing seems clear: the tide is firmly against Kadaga. For a leader once synonymous with Busoga’s political might, the looming contest may mark not just another setback, but the final confirmation that the center of gravity has shifted decisively away from her.