Shocking!! Anita Among In Tears As NRM Invites Norbert Mao To Speak To NRM MP Elects In Kyankwazi

Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is preparing to convene a high-stakes, week-long retreat for Members of Parliament at the National Leadership Institute, in what party officials describe as a routine orientation — but which analysts say could shape political alliances ahead of the 12th Parliament.

The gathering, scheduled from April 7 to April 15, 2026, will bring together newly elected legislators, returning MPs, and a significant bloc of independents leaning toward cooperation with the ruling party.

Addressing journalists at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, Secretary General Richard Todwong outlined the program and its objectives, emphasizing ideological alignment and cohesion within parliamentary ranks.

Participants are expected to report to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on April 6 for accreditation and COVID-19 testing before departing for Kyankwanzi the following day.

“As has been our culture, the party invites newly elected Members of Parliament to Kyankwanzi to bond, understand the party direction, and appreciate national priorities,” he said.

Beyond orientation, the retreat is expected to double as a political consolidation platform. Senior figures — including members of the NRM Central Executive Committee, cabinet ministers, and veteran legislators — are slated to attend, signaling the importance the party attaches to maintaining discipline and unity within its parliamentary caucus.

A key focus is the growing number of independent MPs.

According to Todwong, about 72 independent legislators have been identified, with at least 40 already having signed memoranda of understanding to cooperate with the NRM. He indicated that more are expected to align with the party before the retreat begins, a development that could significantly bolster the ruling party’s numerical strength in Parliament.

The party has also extended an unusual gesture — an open invitation to opposition figures willing to participate in the discussions. Organizers say the program includes space for alternative viewpoints, including an opportunity for an opposition politician to present a paper on the role of opposition in national development.

Among those invited is Norbert Mao, the newly elected MP for Laro-Pece, President General of the Democratic Party, and current Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Mao’s presence — if he accepts — is likely to attract significant attention.

He is widely viewed as positioning himself for the speakership race in the incoming Parliament, where he is expected to face off against Anita Among. His political trajectory has already sparked debate following a cooperation agreement between segments of the Democratic Party and the NRM, a deal that saw him appointed to Cabinet and his party’s Secretary General, Gerald Siranda, secure a seat in the East African Legislative Assembly.

Speaking at the Secretariat, Todwong reiterated the rationale behind Mao’s invitation, framing it within his dual role in government.

“Hon. Norbert Mao is a member of the Cabinet of Uganda and a newly elected member of Parliament. He has not expressed any intention of not working with NRM. He is one of the independents we have invited to Kyankwanzi; it is up to him to accept our invitation or not.”

Political observers say the Kyankwanzi retreat could evolve into more than just an orientation forum. With rival camps quietly mobilizing ahead of the speakership contest, the convergence of MPs, independents, and select opposition figures on one platform presents a rare opportunity for behind-the-scenes negotiations and influence-building.

Questions are also being raised about the broader implications of the retreat, particularly whether it signals a strategic effort by the NRM to consolidate control over Parliament by جذبting independents and soft opposition voices into its orbit.

For now, party officials insist the focus remains on governance and national priorities. But as lawmakers prepare to gather in Kyankwanzi, the retreat is already shaping up as a pivotal moment in Uganda’s evolving political landscape — one where alliances may be tested, ambitions sharpened, and the balance of power quietly recalibrated.