Africa-Press – Uganda. Tensions within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) escalated on Saturday as First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among publicly clashed over the race for NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female).
The confrontation, witnessed during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting chaired by President Museveni, has exposed deep fissures in the party ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Kadaga, a stalwart of the NRM since its inception, delivered a fiery speech warning that the party risks undermining loyalty, seniority, and long-term service if it allows newcomers to supplant seasoned leaders.
Drawing on her decades of service, Kadaga reminded delegates that she began her political journey in 1989 as an RC1 Chairperson in Bugabula, later advancing to RC2 and the National Resistance Council.
“I have been a loyal member of this party since its inception. I have never belonged to any other political party. All my life, my commitment has been to the NRM,” Kadaga told delegates.
Her words reflected both pride and a sense of personal grievance, with several CEC members visibly nodding in agreement.
Kadaga specifically took aim at Among, who has been in the NRM for only three years, highlighting that party guidelines require aspirants to demonstrate their contributions over the last ten years.
“Whether she was doing work elsewhere is her business, but for NRM, it is only three years. We cannot gerrymander the rules,” she charged.
Kadaga argued that her own patience and adherence to party structures — serving seven years as a backbencher before becoming Minister of Regional Cooperation — demonstrated the merit of experience and loyalty.
Her speech did not shy away from recalling past personal humiliation. Kadaga referenced her 2021 removal as Speaker of Parliament, a role she had held for two terms.
“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?” she said, noting that despite her personal disappointment, she remained committed to the party and to advancing its agenda.
Kadaga also raised constitutional and procedural questions about Among’s candidacy.
“Suppose I were a man holding the position of Speaker—would I also come to take the seat of First Vice Chairperson? Would we allow one person to sit in two high offices? It is unfair and unhealthy for the Movement to concentrate such power in one person,” she argued, questioning the precedent the party was setting.
The Deputy Prime Minister cautioned that the upcoming contest could destabilize local communities.
“People will think the party is fighting me, not simply engaging in competition. That is not healthy for the politics of Uganda,” she said, appealing for the party to protect its values of loyalty, patience, and respect for structures.
Among, responding later during the meeting, rejected Kadaga’s assertions. “Being new is not a crime,” the Speaker declared, emphasizing that she brings fresh ideas and has mobilized over ten Members of Parliament from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) into NRM.
Ms Among framed her candidacy as an opportunity to rejuvenate the party, insisting that seniority should not be the sole criterion for leadership.
Among also invoked Kadaga’s own history, pointing out her defiance during the 2021 speakership race when Jacob Oulanyah was endorsed over her.
“When Jacob Oulanyah stood and CEC approved him for Speaker, those who had been in the party for long walked out and stood as independents,” Ms Among said, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in Kadaga’s defense of party loyalty.
The exchange drew cheers and ululations from both camps, further emphasizing the division within NRM leadership. In response to escalating tensions, President Museveni intervened, calling for calm and underscoring that the matter would ultimately be decided by the party delegates.
“Since no one wants to be guided, we shall take this matter to the people. Let the delegates decide,” Museveni ruled, effectively ending the confrontation but leaving the political battle unresolved.
Analysts say the clash reveals the limits of personal influence in NRM, where the President’s decisions and preferences often outweigh seniority and loyalty.
Political commentator Godwin Toko said Kadaga’s apparent indispensability is a misperception within the party’s hierarchical structure.
“She might have seen herself as a queen somewhere, but to Museveni, she is a mere pawn,” he said.
“When Kadaga loses next week, she will probably ask the question Rubashov asked in Darkness at Noon: ‘If I ask myself today, for what am I dying? I am confronted by absolute nothingness.’”
Observers also note that Kadaga’s critique touches on broader structural issues within NRM politics.
The debate over seniority, loyalty, and the role of newcomers underscores tensions between experience and generational renewal.
While Kadaga emphasizes decades of service, Among embodies the party’s push for new ideas and a broader appeal ahead of national elections.
The upcoming National Delegates’ Conference, where the final vote for the NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female) will take place, is now seen as a pivotal moment for the party.
Analysts suggest the contest will test the strength of Museveni’s influence, the appeal of established party leaders, and the party’s willingness to accommodate emerging leadership.
Kadaga’s stance also reflects enduring questions about gender representation in NRM politics. Having served as the most senior female leader in the party, she argued that forcing her to step aside for a junior colleague risks undermining the principle of rewarding long-term service and dedication.
“This is not just about me. It is about the values of the NRM—commitment, loyalty, patience, and respect for structures,” she told delegates, framing the debate as a matter of principle rather than personal ambition.
As the NRM prepares for the delegates’ vote, political observers will be watching closely to see how loyalty, seniority, and political strategy interact in one of Uganda’s most influential political institutions.
The contest between Kadaga and Among may redefine internal dynamics in the ruling party and set a precedent for how experience and new leadership are balanced within Uganda’s dominant political formation.
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