By A storm is brewing inside the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) after a dramatic confrontation between First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among during the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Saturday.
The clash centered on the hotly contested position of First National Vice Chairperson (Female), with Kadaga delivering a fiery speech that openly questioned Among’s eligibility and warned of the risks of sidelining long-serving cadres.
Kadaga Hits Back at “Impatience at the Top”
In a speech that drew loud applause, Kadaga reminded delegates of her decades of service to the NRM:
“I have been a member of this party since its inception. My journey began in 1989 as Chairperson of RC1 in my village in Bunambutye, then to RC2, and later to the National Resistance Council. I have never belonged to any other political party.”
The former Speaker then cast doubt on Among’s candidacy, pointing to the NRM’s own guidelines:
“Our party guidelines are clear. When one seeks office, they must demonstrate at least ten years of service to the Movement. Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among has only served three.”
Her remarks reportedly left the room in stunned silence.
Warning Shots Fired
Kadaga warned against what she described as “impatience at the top”, noting that she had served seven years as a backbencher before being elevated to ministerial office.
“Why should someone who has barely served three years rise to the top of the Movement?” she asked.
She further cautioned that a showdown with Among could cause political fractures:
“If this goes to a vote, my community will interpret it as the party fighting me. That’s unhealthy for our politics.”
Power, Gender, and Party Values
In one of her sharpest jabs, Kadaga accused the party of tolerating a concentration of power, questioning why a sitting Speaker should also occupy the vice chairperson’s seat.
“Would we allow a male Speaker to contest for the vice chairpersonship? This isn’t just about personal ambition. It’s about fairness and the values we hold as a Movement,” she argued.
A Challenge to the Top Brass
Kadaga concluded her remarks with a direct challenge to President Museveni and the NRM leadership:
“I am the most senior female leader in this party. How can the senior be asked to step aside for the junior? What precedent are we setting?”
What Next for NRM?
Kadaga’s explosive remarks have exposed the growing fault lines within the ruling party, signaling what could be one of the most contentious internal battles in recent years.
With Anita Among’s rising influence and Kadaga’s long-standing stature in the party, the contest is shaping up not just as a competition for office but as a litmus test of loyalty, seniority, and the future direction of the Movement.
