Africa-Press – Uganda. First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has launched a spirited campaign to retain her seat as Second National Vice Chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), rallying women leaders in Busoga and pushing back against critics who claim she is too old to remain in top party leadership.
Addressing NRM Women League leaders from across Busoga sub-region at her Kyando Hotel in Mayuge District, Kadaga, a veteran politician and former Speaker of Parliament, said age was being unfairly weaponised against her while older male party leaders faced no similar scrutiny.
“Age is being weaponised against me, yet I am not the only aged leader in the party,” Kadaga told the crowd.
“When you ask someone if they support President Museveni, they say yes; when you ask about Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo, also yes—yet they are over 80 years old. But when it comes to Kadaga, who is in her 60s, they say she is old. That is discriminatory.”
She cited recent examples, including the nomination of Gen. Moses Ali, who filed his candidacy while seated in his car due to frailty, as evidence that seniority was not a barrier for male leaders. Kadaga warned that such age-based attacks were short-sighted.
“They are also coming to our league—because where we are coming is where they are going,” she said, urging women to reject any manipulation aimed at discrediting experienced leaders.
Kadaga also rejected a growing narrative suggesting that the Second National Vice Chairperson position should automatically go to the sitting Speaker of Parliament—currently Anita Among. She questioned whether such logic would apply if a Speaker belonged to the Opposition.
“It is not true that the position of Second National Vice Chairperson was created for the sitting Speaker,” she said.
“We didn’t see Francis Ayume, James Wapakhabulo, or Edward Ssekandi serving in that office when they were Speakers.”
She dismissed proponents of that view as political opportunists: “Those driving this narrative are people who have just joined the Party but want to climb to big positions quickly.”
Kadaga urged the women to defend the region’s political voice, calling on them to support leaders who have consistently represented Busoga’s interests.
Her remarks were met with resounding support from the assembled NRM women leaders, many of whom pledged to rally behind her candidacy.
Nzaireki Zakia, Chairperson of the NRM Women League in Mayuge, directly appealed to President Museveni to back Kadaga’s re-election and encourage Speaker Among to step aside.
“If you can seek an appointment with the President, we shall tell him directly—let Speaker Anita Among leave this position for you, because you are the only senior leader from the Party we have in Busoga,” Zakia said.
Florence Odwori, her counterpart from Namayingo, argued that Kadaga remains the region’s most credible voice at the national level.
“We had a Secretary General from Busoga, but he was dropped and given a less influential role as Minister for General Duties. Now, only you remain to speak for us,” Odwori said.
Susan Sitakote Asembo, Vice Chairperson for Namayingo, praised Kadaga’s development record and tireless advocacy for women, saying she deserved to retain her seat on the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee.
Kadaga is expected to officially launch her campaign with a grand rally in Iganga Municipality, where she will unveil her full agenda and mobilise grassroots support.
Her renewed bid comes amid increasing political jockeying within the NRM, with several CEC seats up for contest ahead of internal elections.
Yet Kadaga’s message remains pointed: leadership, loyalty and legacy should matter more than age.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
