A dramatic standoff unfolded within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) this week as former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga fiercely resisted pressure to step down from her position as NRM’s 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Eastern Region), clashing publicly with President Yoweri Museveni during a heated National Executive Council (NEC) session.
Kadaga, visibly agitated, delivered a defiant statement asserting her right to remain in office, warning that replacing her with Speaker of Parliament Anita Among , who already sits on CEC in an ex-officio capacity, would not only undermine party loyalty but also spark discontent among her community in Busoga.
“I am the incumbent, I have served this party since 1989, and I will not move for anybody,” Kadaga declared, directly addressing Museveni.
“You’re sending a message that loyalty, commitment and integrity in NRM don’t matter anymore,” she added.
Kadaga questioned why a junior member who “has worked for the party for only three years” should take over her seat, stressing her long-standing service to the NRM from her days as a local chairperson to her role in parliament and the East African Community.
She also rejected claims that the Speaker of Parliament should automatically hold a substantive seat on the CEC. “The office I occupy was created to represent women in NRM. It has nothing to do with the Speaker’s office,” she added, “How can one person sit in two seats?”
Museveni Responds
However, in a rare show of visible frustration, President Museveni responded with a firm denial of any political witch-hunt, insisting that Kadaga was not being targeted.
“There is nobody who is hunting you,” Museveni told her. “That’s not correct. What happened in 2021 was that we supported Oulanyah for Speaker because there was he had been Deputy Speaker for long,” he explained
Your don’t own Busoga
He further accused Kadaga of politicizing regional identity and “polluting her position” with ethnic sentiments.
He said it not correct for Kadaga to involve the Basoga… as if without her, they don’t exist.
“I am the one who fought for the Basoga,” Museveni said, listing historical sacrifices made by his liberation forces in the region.
Museveni also drew parallels with his own family, recounting how he persuaded his younger brother Nzeire not to contest in a recent race to avoid public suspicion that the President was interfering in the process.
“I don’t have powers to stop candidates. If I did, it would cause problems,” he said.
As tensions escalated, legal advisors stepped in to clarify the constitutional procedure.
According to party lawyers, the CEC is mandated to recommend one or more candidates to the NEC, which then submits names for election at the National Conference.
Museveni noted that while his “political guidance” was for the two contenders to reach a mutual agreement, if that failed, NEC would have to decide whether to forward one or both names for election.
“The correct thing would be to vote on the issue. Do we send one or two?” Museveni asked, with the Attorney General confirming that NEC must now pronounce itself.
This latest dispute revives memories of the 2021 fallout when Kadaga was ousted as Speaker in favor of the late Jacob Oulanyah, a political blow she said left her “humiliated.” At the time, she accused party leaders of orchestrating her removal.
Kadaga’s current position has been a key seat of influence for the eastern region and within the national party’s power structure.
Her refusal to step down in favor of Among has laid bare internal rifts within the NRM and raised concerns about succession politics, loyalty, and regional balancing.
Party insiders now fear the conflict could spill beyond the confines of the CEC, potentially destabilizing support in Busoga and casting a shadow over the NRM’s preparations for the 2026 elections.
Kadaga, who has served the party for decades and commands a loyal support base in eastern Uganda, is said to have resisted mounting pressure from the top leadership to step aside in favor of a candidate favored by State House.
“She feels sidelined and disrespected, especially after her long service to the party and the country,” a source close to Kadaga told on condition of anonymity.
The standoff has triggered speculation within NRM circles, with some fearing a deeper rift that could test internal party cohesion ahead of the 2026 general elections.
However, she remains a significant political figure with grassroots influence that could complicate efforts to sideline her without backlash.
Observers are now watching closely to see whether the party will hold a competitive election for the position or reach a consensus behind closed doors to avoid further fractures.
