KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) was shaken as First Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga signaled a potential departure from the party following a devastating defeat in its internal elections.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kadaga, the former Speaker of Parliament, lost the race for the powerful position of 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female) to the current Speaker, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, by a staggering margin.
Official results from the NRM Electoral Commission showed Among securing a commanding 11,680 votes (92.8%) against Kadaga’s 902 (7.2%) a resounding defeat that prompted an immediate and fiery response.
In a post on X, the defeated Kadaga refused to concede, instead accusing her opponents of “massive voter bribery and intimidation” and threatening to lead a walkout from the NRM.
This public threat underscores a deep-seated rift within the NRM, a tension that had been brewing since Kadaga openly challenged the party’s decision to back Among at a recent National Executive Council meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
Kadaga’s central argument hinged on loyalty and experience, noting that Among’s three years of NRM membership starkly contrasted with party guidelines recommending a decade of service for such a high-level position.
She accused the party leadership of abandoning its core principles of rewarding long-term service and loyalty.
The outcome and Kadaga’s reaction have drawn commentary from observers, including Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, who acknowledged Kadaga’s contributions to Uganda and the women’s movement.
In a social media post, Bireete criticized the political environment, suggesting that the system Kadaga helped build now excludes even its own architects.
Some critics have advised the veteran politician that joining opposition forces might be the only path to catalyze meaningful democratic reform in Uganda.
The result solidifies Speaker Among’s influential position within the ruling party, as she now assumes a key role responsible for mobilizing support and representing women’s interests within the NRM apparatus.
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