The race for Uganda’s most powerful parliamentary offices has taken another dramatic turn after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), the political pressure group linked to the Army Chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, abruptly withdrew its endorsement of Speaker Anita Among and her Deputy Thomas Tayebwa.
In a statement dated May 12, 2026 signed by PLU Secretary General David Kabanda, the organisation announced that an earlier letter issued on March 11 backing the two outgoing parliamentary leaders had been “retracted and withdrawn with immediate effect.”
According to the statement, the directive came from PLU chairman Gen Muhoozi, signaling a significant shift in the group’s political positioning ahead of the battle for control of the 12th Parliament.
Rather than backing individual candidates, PLU has now instructed its leaning members-elect to rally behind candidates who will be formally presented by President Yoweri Museveni for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
“The leadership of the Patriotic League of Uganda encourages its Hon. Members Elect to support the candidates that will be presented to them by H.E the President,” the statement read.
The reversal injects fresh uncertainty into an already competitive contest that has drawn intense attention within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and across the wider political landscape.
Among and Tayebwa have long been regarded as formidable figures within the NRM establishment.
Among, in particular, has been widely viewed as a leading contender to retain the speakership, bolstered by her close relationship with the party leadership and her commanding influence over parliamentary business during the 11th Parliament.
But the contest has become increasingly unpredictable with the entry of other high-profile aspirants, including Democratic Party president and Justice Minister, Norbert Mao, who also formally declared his bid for the same seat.
Mao has maintained that he will remain in the race despite mounting pressure from some political actors urging him to step aside in favour of Among.
His candidacy has added a new dimension to the contest, introducing an opposition-linked figure into a race historically dominated by the ruling NRM.
Political analysts say Mao’s presence has complicated calculations within the establishment, particularly as he frames his campaign around institutional reform and greater legislative independence.
The PLU’s latest move appears to signal a strategic retreat from openly endorsing candidates before President Museveni issues formal guidance to the NRM parliamentary caucus, a process that traditionally shapes the final outcome of leadership races in Parliament.
In Uganda’s political system, the ruling party’s caucus endorsement is often decisive given the NRM’s numerical dominance in the House.
