CEC Tensions: Senior NRM Figures Resist Among, Tayebwa Speaker Bid – See List

Several senior figures within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) quietly pushed back against the endorsement of Speaker Anita Annet Among and her Deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, during a tense closed-door party meeting. However, President Yoweri Museveni ultimately overruled the dissent, steering the party toward unity and throwing his full weight behind the duo’s bid for a second term at the helm of Parliament.

Influential members of the NRM had reportedly raised objections to the endorsement ahead of the party’s final position, exposing simmering internal disagreements within the country’s dominant political movement. The concerns came to the surface during a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting held at State House, where the party leadership convened to decide on its flag bearers for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament.

Despite the resistance, the meeting concluded with a resolution to endorse Ms Among and Mr Tayebwa as the NRM’s sole candidates for the powerful parliamentary positions. But the decision did not come easily.

Before consensus was reached, at least three newly elected members of the CEC openly challenged the proposed endorsement, underscoring fractures within the party’s top decision-making organ.

Kyotera MP-elect Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, who also serves as the NRM vice chairperson for Buganda and State minister for Microfinance, was among the most vocal opponents of Ms Among’s second-term bid. According to the *Daily Monitor*, Mr Kasolo accused the Bukedea Woman MP-elect of actively campaigning against him during the recently concluded elections—an allegation that laid bare personal rivalries and lingering resentment within party ranks.

Opposition to the endorsement intensified when NRM vice chairperson for the Eastern Region and Soroti City West MP-elect, Mr Calvin Echodu, also raised concerns. His objections were linked to what he described as unresolved “Teso political grievances,” suggesting that broader regional dynamics were at play beyond individual ambitions. Mr Echodu later appealed directly to President Museveni to intervene and help reconcile leaders from the sub-region, highlighting fears that unresolved tensions could weaken party cohesion.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa was not spared from criticism either. Prominent businessman and NRM Entrepreneurs League chairperson Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba accused Mr Tayebwa of working against his interests during the party’s internal elections. The Deputy Speaker firmly denied the allegation, dismissing claims that he had undermined any party member.

Meanwhile, Hajji Iddi Basajjabalaba, the MP-elect for Bushenyi–Ishaka and son of the tycoon, had publicly declared his intention to contest for the Deputy Speaker position. However, his ambitions were not discussed during the CEC meeting, effectively shutting the door on alternative bids within the party’s top leadership forum.

Faced with mounting objections, President Museveni stepped in to restore order and rally the party behind the incumbent leadership. He urged NRM leaders to put aside personal grievances and individual disputes in the interest of party unity and stability. The President promised to look into what he described as “local issues” raised by dissenting members, signaling a willingness to address internal concerns without derailing the party’s broader agenda.

According to sources familiar with the meeting, President Museveni defended the endorsement by pointing to Ms Among and Mr Tayebwa’s record in steering government business smoothly through Parliament. He reportedly credited the duo with weakening the Opposition during the 11th Parliament and restoring order in a House that had previously been marked by deep divisions and frequent confrontations.

Following the resolution, the NRM leadership agreed to forward the endorsed names to the party caucus, where they will be formally adopted and presented on the floor of Parliament.

Under Article 82 of the Constitution, Parliament is required to have a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker, both elected by Members of Parliament from among themselves. The Speaker serves as the head of the Parliamentary Commission and also chairs the Committee on Appointments and the Business Committee, making the position one of the most influential in Uganda’s governance structure.

Beyond administrative duties, the Speaker presides over all parliamentary sittings and ensures that debates adhere to the established Rules of Procedure. As the overall head of the Legislature, the Speaker also represents Parliament in its official and corporate engagements, playing a central role in shaping the tone, discipline, and effectiveness of the House.