Tensions ahead of the 12th Parliament Speakership race have escalated after Bukono County MP-elect Persis Namuganza openly accused Speaker Anita Annet Among of using the name of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to advance what she described as a “disguised” campaign for re-election.
Speaking after a closed-door dinner in Kampala linked to fundraising for Muhoozi’s upcoming birthday run, Namuganza claimed the event was far from a neutral or charitable gathering. According to her, attendance was restricted to MPs-elect of the 12th Parliament—raising questions about whether the meeting doubled as a political mobilization platform.
“I was shocked to find that the dinner was strictly for elected MPs of the 12th Parliament,” Namuganza said, arguing that the exclusivity pointed to a calculated effort to consolidate support behind Among under the cover of a social function.
Namuganza, who has declared her own bid for the Speakership, accused Among of dragging the army leadership into partisan parliamentary politics by invoking Muhoozi’s name. She warned that such tactics risk undermining the principle of institutional neutrality, particularly for a serving Chief of Defence Forces.
“The use of Gen. Muhoozi’s name in this manner is unacceptable,” she said, adding that parliamentary leadership contests should be conducted transparently rather than through “backdoor dealings and influence-peddling.”
In unusually sharp language, Namuganza also took aim at what she described as a cult-like atmosphere at the event, alleging that some of Among’s supporters openly praised her in monarchical terms.
“Her praise singers were shouting ‘the queen of Uganda has come.’ Royals are born, not named,” she told BBS TV, in remarks that underscore deepening personal and political rivalries within the ruling establishment.
The accusations come against the backdrop of increasingly assertive rhetoric attributed to Among. In remarks circulating among legislators, the Speaker reportedly boasted of her financial muscle and political dominance, saying she would “spend whatever it takes” to secure victory and that the 12th Parliament would be “the easiest,” with the opposition effectively neutralized.
Critics say such statements, if accurate, reinforce fears that the Speakership race is tilting away from democratic contestation toward patronage-driven politics.
Namuganza further positioned herself as an independent actor willing to work with the ruling National Resistance Movement without formal agreements. She claimed her approach has the blessing of President Yoweri Museveni, a statement likely to add another layer of intrigue to an already complex political contest.
Efforts to obtain a direct response from Among were unsuccessful by press time. However, her allies have previously dismissed similar claims, arguing that her engagements with MPs are routine consultations expected of a political leader.
With multiple contenders emerging and accusations of covert campaigning surfacing early, the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament is shaping into a bruising contest—one that may test both party cohesion and the credibility of parliamentary processes.
