By Eye Media
Kampala | The Eye Media – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has given the green light for both Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among and her predecessor Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to take their battle to the National Delegates Conference, where the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) will decide who takes the powerful slot of 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female).
With just a few words—“Go and seek mandate from the Delegates”—the NRM Chairman avoided taking sides, instead throwing the two political heavyweights into the court of thousands of delegates who will determine their fate.
The President, who chaired Thursday’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at State House, was emphatic: “Go and seek mandate from the Delegates Conference.”
With that, Museveni sidestepped the pressure of handpicking one over the other, instead throwing the decision into the hands of thousands of delegates who will gather for the NRM National Conference.
Clash of Titans
This is no ordinary contest. It pits two of Uganda’s most formidable women leaders against each other, both with strong claims to the party’s throne of female leadership.
Kadaga, who has held the seat since 2021, is banking on her loyal Busoga base and the old guard within the NRM. Her camp insists she remains the most experienced woman in the party, having served as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of Parliament for nearly two decades.
Among, on the other hand, comes armed with the Speaker’s gavel, the full weight of Parliament, and a political machine well-oiled by her proximity to State House. Her campaign has also tapped into regional identity politics, reminding Basoga that they “did not lose” when Kadaga left the Speaker’s chair, since Busoga still has a Speaker—herself.
The War of Words
The gloves are already off. Kadaga has branded Among unfit for the seat, citing the sanctions slapped on her by the U.S. and U.K.
“She was sanctioned because of corruption. She cannot travel to America, she cannot travel to the UK, even Dubai,” Kadaga told supporters in Mpigi.
Among, however, has kept a calm tone, dismissing Kadaga’s attacks as insults. “I was brought up well. I don’t attack elders. That is the woman you need,” she told a rally in Busoga, flanked by her husband, FUFA boss Moses Magogo.
Museveni’s Balancing Act
For Museveni, allowing both women to contest is a tactical move. By avoiding openly endorsing one, he ensures the party remains on a democratic path while defusing accusations of favoritism.
But analysts warn that the contest could deepen cracks within the NRM. “This race is more than a position. It is a battle for control, influence, and the soul of women’s politics in the NRM,” one observer told The Eye Media.
The Stakes Ahead
The seat of 2nd National Vice Chairperson is the most powerful female post in the NRM hierarchy. Whoever wins will not only control the women’s constituency in the party but also wield immense influence in shaping the 2026 campaign agenda.
Kadaga comes with the legacy card. Among comes with the power card. And now, with Museveni’s clearance, the two juggernauts must prove their strength in the full glare of the National Delegates Conference.
In the President’s words: “Go and seek mandate from the Delegates.” And so the stage is set.
