“The Kyabazingaship was overthrown, and it is a matter of concern” – Kadaga

Kamuli, Uganda:- Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has stirred controversy in the Busoga Kingdom after claiming that the Kyabazingaship (the region’s traditional leadership) is under an alleged coup with help from external influence.

“The issue at the moment is that the Kyabazingaship was overthrown, and it is a matter of concern,” said Ms. Kadaga while appearing on a local radio station in Kamuli over the weekend.

The former speaker, who also serves as the Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament, further accused unnamed senior officials within the Busoga Kingdom of being “enemies of Busoga” for endorsing rival candidates to challenge her in the 2026 elections.

However, when contacted for a comment, the Busoga Kingdom Katukiiro (Prime Minister), Dr. Joseph Muvawala, said he had not been personally referred to by Ms. Kadaga’s remarks. He insisted that the Kingdom will issue a formal statement on the allegations “at an appropriate time.”

“After consultations with the King, we will determine whether there is a need for a formal response. When that time comes, you will surely be in copy of the Kingdom response,” Dr. Muvawala stated.

Pressed further to explain if the Kingdom had experienced a coup as alleged, Dr. Muvawala responded, “I have not heard that. I have no comment. Thanks.”

Political Undertones and Rivalries

Ms. Proscovia Naikoba, who has twice unsuccessfully contested against Ms. Kadaga, attributed the latter’s statements to the upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, for which she is facing stiff rivalry from Speaker Anita Among for the position of Second National Vice-Chairperson (Female).

 “Ms Kadaga is saying that Ms Veronica Vennah Kagona (Busoga Kingdom State Minister for Youth Affairs/Information and Communication Technology), is being sponsored and fronted by the Kyabazingaship and Speaker Among, while I was being supported by State House, like she said about (Salaam) Musumba,” Ms Naikoba said.

She further suggested that Ms. Kadaga’s concerns reflect her insecurity about her popularity ahead of the 2026 elections. “She should be happy that competition in democracy is healthy, and young girls coming to compete against her will give her time to check her popularity, renew her public trust and performance.”

Moses Kisaame, the Ivukula Sub-county LC3 Chairperson, linked the alleged “overthrow” of the Kyabazingaship to Speaker Among’s growing influence in Busoga. “If Ms. Kadaga is voted out in the 2026 elections, Busoga will remain disorganized because she plays a crucial role in the Kyabazingaship,” Mr. Kisaame said.

Meanwhile, James Mugurwa, the Mazuba Sub-county LC3 Chairperson, noted that it was Speaker Among’s right to challenge Ms. Kadaga, but warned that a loss for the former Speaker would be a “disappointment” for her supporters.

Some locals, however, claim that Ms Kadaga’s reconciliation with the State Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Ms Persis Namuganza, might have prompted the Kyabazingaship to back Speaker Among because Ms Namuganza is a Prince Wambuzi loyalist.

The two politicians clashed in 2018 over their support for rival candidates during a Kyabazingaship succession feud. While Ms. Kadaga backed Prince Gabula, Ms. Namuganza supported Prince Wambuzi.

Their feud escalated when Ms. Namuganza accused Ms. Kadaga of meddling in the affairs of the Nkono Chiefdom, supporting Godfrey Mutyaba instead of her preferred candidate, Charles Mutyaba.

The dispute led to Ms. Namuganza’s expulsion from the Busoga Parliamentary Group, where she represented the Bukono Constituency.

In 2020, the pair faced off for the position of NRM Second Vice Chairperson (Female), which Ms. Kadaga won with 6,776 votes against Ms. Namuganza’s 3,943.

However, the two reconciled in August 2024 during a tourism campaign in Bukono Chiefdom, Namutumba District, where Namuganza referred to Ms. Kadaga as “Mama Busoga” and pledged her support for her leadership.

Meanwhile, DailyExpress understands that at least five aspirants have come out to express interest in ousting Kadaga as the Kamuli Woman MP, a position she has held since the 1990s. These include; Ms Proscovia Kanakutanda Naikoba, Ms Bridget Babirye (NUP), Ms Deborah Mwesigwa (NRM), Ms Veronica Kagona (NRM), and Ms Noet Nangobi (NRM), among others.