Kampala, Uganda: Outgoing Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Anita Annet Among has withdrawn from the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, ending weeks of growing political uncertainty, internal pressure within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), and mounting investigations into her wealth and conduct in office.
In a statement released on Sunday night at exactly 11:50 pm, Among, who is also Bukedea Woman MP, announced that she would no longer seek re-election as Speaker, saying the decision followed “wide consultations and deep introspection.”
“I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that I will not be offering myself for the Speakership race of the 12th Parliament,” she stated.
The outgoing Speaker said the move was intended to “maintain harmony and clarity” within the ruling NRM party. “I pledge my total support to the candidates who will be endorsed by the President and the Party, and implore all colleague MPs of the 12th Parliament to do the same,” she added.
Hon Among also thanked President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM leadership, Members of Parliament, family and friends for supporting her rise from Deputy Speaker to Speaker during the 11th Parliament.
“I shall remain available to the service of my country as the party and the President may assign me,” she stated.
Crucially, Ms Among also directly addressed the ongoing investigations surrounding her tenure, pledging cooperation with state agencies.
“In the meantime, I pledge to continue cooperating with all ongoing investigations as initiated by the relevant organs of the state to get to the root of all the allegations raised,” she said.
Dramatic downfall
Among’s withdrawal comes amid one of the most dramatic political crises to hit Uganda’s parliamentary leadership in recent years.
Over the last couple of days, pressure on the outgoing Speaker intensified following reports of internal State House meetings, widening corruption investigations and visible cracks within powerful sections of the ruling establishment.
Security agencies over the weekend raided several properties linked to Among, including her residence in Nakasero, as part of investigations into alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering.
The raids reportedly involved operatives from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other security agencies.
The operations followed a petition filed before the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) by a group of lawyers seeking investigations into Among’s declared wealth and assets.
At the same time, reports emerged that a high-level meeting chaired by President Museveni at State House, Entebbe, had discussed concerns surrounding Among’s continued bid for the Speakership.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that corruption allegations, accumulation of wealth and political concerns surrounding her growing influence featured prominently in the deliberations.
CDF Muhoozi’s intervention
The political atmosphere shifted even further after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly withdrew support for Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa through his Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) civic group.
Gen Muhoozi later openly endorsed Defence Minister Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth for Speaker of Parliament, describing him as “the best minister in government for the last five years.”
“There is no Speakership battle. We already have our new Speaker,” Muhoozi posted on X.
The endorsement was widely interpreted as a decisive signal from powerful sections within the state and ruling establishment.
Muhoozi also appeared to indirectly reference public criticism surrounding Among’s luxurious lifestyle, including controversy over a Rolls-Royce vehicle reportedly linked to her.
“I have been Mzee’s son for 52 years, but I have never sat in a Rolls-Royce ever,” the CDF, known to be intolerant of corruption, wrote in one of his posts.
Rise to power
Anita Among’s withdrawal marks a dramatic reversal for one of Uganda’s most powerful female politicians over the last five years.
Born in Bukedea District, Anita Among rose from modest beginnings to become Deputy Speaker in 2021 before ascending to the Speakership in March 2022 following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
Before joining NRM, she previously belonged to the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), later crossing to the ruling party, where she steadily climbed the political ladder.
Under her leadership, Parliament passed several major pieces of legislation, while she also consolidated considerable influence within both Parliament and NRM structures.
However, her tenure also attracted criticism from opposition groups, civil society actors and international observers.
In 2024, Ms Among became one of several Ugandan officials sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the United States over corruption allegations and governance concerns.
With her officially stepping aside, attention now turns to the expected NRM and State House-backed candidate ahead of the first sitting of the 12th Parliament on May 25, where MPs will elect both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Political observers say Jacob Oboth-Oboth now appears to have emerged as the frontrunner, although official communication from the NRM Central Executive Committee and party caucus is still awaited.
Ms Among’s exit effectively closes one of the most turbulent chapters in Uganda’s recent parliamentary politics, while simultaneously opening a fresh power contest over the future direction of the 12th Parliament.
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