Kampala, Uganda: The NRM Revolutionary Network has raised alarming questions on the authenticity of a purported Central Executive Committee (CEC) resolution making rounds that the party’s National Chairman, President Yoweri Museveni, signed the endorsement of Anita Among and Thomas Tayebwa as the ruling party’s candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
In a press statement issued Thursday, March 05, the Revolutionary Network said a document, allegedly bearing the signatures of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, raises serious institutional concerns and requires urgent clarification from the party secretariat.
According to the resolution document, which surfaced not through the NRM communication, President Museveni is said to have informed Todwong that the party’s CEC, during its February 20 sitting, discussed and endorsed extending the tenure of Among and Tayebwa.
Despite Todwong not responding to repeated requests for comment, NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Lumala Dombo confirmed that the secretariat had received Museveni’s directive, but also did not confirm if the letter circulating in the media is authentic.
“The Secretary General has just informed me that he has received the letter to that effect,” Dombo said, before hanging up.
However, the NRM Revolutionary Network argues that the circumstances under which the document surfaced are questionable.
The group said that when reports of a CEC endorsement first emerged in late January, the party’s Legal Directorate came out to clarify that no such formal resolution had been documented despite the two leaders reportedly meeting Museveni at his country home.
“When the matter of a supposed CEC endorsement first surfaced early this year, the NRM Secretariat did not provide a clear and documented resolution. The Party’s Legal Directorate later clarified that no such endorsement had indeed taken place despite the duo’s meeting with the National Chairman at his country farm. Now, after sustained calls for transparency, a document emerges out of nowhere under questionable circumstances,” the statement, posted via its socials, reads in part.
Alleged Irregularities
The network further claimed its preliminary review of the circulating document revealed inconsistencies, including grammatical errors and signatures that appear materially different from known official signatures on similar party instruments.
“These discrepancies cannot be ignored,” the group said, warning that if the document proves fraudulent, it could amount to attempted forgery of official party records.
The group further demanded an immediate clarification from the NRM Secretariat on whether the document is genuine and called for investigations if it is found to be fabricated.
“We, therefore, wish to categorically state that; If this document is authentic, the Secretariat must formally release it through proper party communication channels, and if it is not authentic, then our mighty Movement is facing a dangerous attempt at forgery and institutional sabotage.”
“Forgery of official party resolutions, especially those bearing the name and signature of the National Chairman, is not a small matter. It is an attack on the integrity of the NRM and an insult to the discipline that has sustained this Movement for decades,” it adds.
Growing Contest for Speakership
The controversy comes amid an increasingly competitive race for the Speakership ahead of the 12th Parliament. Several NRM members, alongside opposition legislators, have declared interest in challenging Among for the top parliamentary seat.
Those who have publicly expressed interest include Norbert Mao, Persis Namuganza, Yorke Odria, Lydia Wanyoto and Florence Asiimwe Akiiki.
Reports indicate that the CEC, chaired by Museveni, cited reasons such as the smooth passage of government-backed legislation, neutralising opposition influence and maintaining continuity in Parliament’s leadership when allegedly backing the incumbent leadership.
Constitutional Process
Under Article 82 of the Constitution of Uganda, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected by Members of Parliament from among themselves through a secret ballot supervised by the Chief Justice or a designated judge.
The NRM Revolutionary Network warned that manipulating internal party documents to influence the process risks undermining the credibility of the ruling party and its institutional structures.
“The NRM was built on order, structure, and clarity of command. Manipulating documents to influence internal political processes and favour certain individuals undermines that foundation and breeds distrust among cadres and the public,” it said.
“The future of the NRM cannot be built on confusion. It must be anchored in discipline, transparency and institutional credibility,” the statement concluded.
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