Kampala, (UG):- The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament Rt Hon Anita Annet Among has declared to contest against former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for the position of 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female) at the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee.
Hon Among broke the on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, while addressing members of the press at her Parliament office in Kampala.
“You wanted to know whether I am contesting for NRM National Vice Chairperson – Female, and yes, I am not standing for the position for Eastern region, I am going to stand for NRM National Vice Chairperson – Female,” the Speaker, who is also Bukedea Woman MP told the Media.
“National Vice Chairperson Female is the one I am standing for, not Eastern. I am for the whole country, not for only the Eastern region,” Hon Among reiterated with emphasis.
The position for National Vice Chairperson Female is currently being occupied by her longtime rival and former Speaker of Parliament Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.
The NRM national vice-chairpersons directly support the Chairperson, who is also President Museveni, and his longstanding party right-hand man Moses Kigongo.
Speaker Among’s declaration sets the stage for a high-stakes contest between the two prominent figures in NRM leadership in Eastern Ugandan, and adds a fuelling fire to their fraught political relationship.
Ms Kadaga, who has held the position for years, has often avoided open clashes with Ms Among, although the latter has often goaded her in the past by declaring herself Mama Busoga and making suggestions that an “old woman from Kamuli” was to blame for the poverty in Busoga.
Ms Among has also previously alleged attempts to undermine her Speakership with veiled innuendo that a former Speaker was still holding hopes of bouncing bakc to the top seat.
While Kadaga recently stirred public concern with audio recordings in which she claimed that unnamed enemies were plotting to harm her through a staged road accident.
She did not provide evidence or identify the alleged conspirators.
Ms Among’s growing influence has been felt not only in national politics but also in Busoga, Kadaga’s stronghold.
Ms Kadaga hails from Kamuli and the Basoga have for years called her Mama Busoga for her dedicated political leadership of the sub-region.
She has made significant investments in Kadaga’s backyard of Kamuli using her neighbouring marital home district of Buyende as a base to engage the Basoga.
It is not yet known whether Kadaga will want to retain the seat she viciously fought for in the last NRM Party elections.
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