Shortly after the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among declared her intentions to vie for the NRM position of Waman national vice chairperson, information reaching this www.alternativeuganda.org media platform indicate that the election for the post is still in balance.
Currently the seat is held by Busoga political lynchpin, also the Minister in charge of East African Affairs, and doubling as First Deputy Prime Minister Kadaga.
“I’m going to stand as NRM National Women’s Chairperson. I’m for the whole country not only eastern region,” Among declared during a meeting with some 20 urban council speakers, who had approached her to express concerns over poor remuneration and transportation challenges.
Our impeccable source from State House has revealed that president Museveni has a hidden agenda not to hold elections for all incumbent NRM Central Executive Committee – CEC NRM save for the vacant positions for fear that National Unity Platform (NUP) may penetrate the system and place in their supporters.
“President Museveni has for over two years having information that Among has tried her best to be everything that Kadaga has been, she wanted to contest for Kamuli parliamentary post since his husband Eng. Magogo Moses hails from the region, and the president warned her, now she wants Kadaga’s CEC post and has put aside Shs 2bn for this and his supporters and traversing various district doing kakuyege (support mobilization and sourcing) from district leaders.” Our source is quoted.
Our efforts to seek Kadaga’s comment concerning Among’s move were futile as her known phones were off but one of his political assistants informed us that her boss has no comment to give to the press as of now.
“Hon Kadaga is here to serve Kamuli people, those of Busoga region and the nation at large. She is aware of her alleged conspirators and their plans of fighting her. Kadaga knows where to report her concerns and at the right time that is why she rarely holds press conferences,” the political assistant said.
“Since Among was elected Speaker replacing Kadaga in 2021, she came to Busoga and said ‘I am now your Mama Busoga’; she used to come to various public functions and began undermining Kadaga and when this persisted Kadaga made a call to president Museveni, to ask Among to stop going to public functions in Busoga region and concentrate on Bukedea”, the source said.
The source further avers that following Museveni’s phone order, is the reason Among did not attend Henry Kibalya’s Constituency (Bugabula South) fundraising and when a senior citizen passed away in Busoga, among delegated hon Mathias Mpuuga to represent her.
Bad moments for Museveni and Kadaga
After Museveni’s open support in 2021 primaries to Jacob Oulanyah [RIP] against Kadaga which the later won with majority votes, Kadaga fell out with the president when she left the polling venue crying.
It took Museveni much efforts to go through Kadaga’s mother to convince her to accept the Cabinet posts.
Why Museveni, Kadaga reconciled
During the revamping of the 2022 Nyege annual festivals in Jinja which Anita had vehemently vowed not to take place despite Prime Ministry Robbinah Nabbanja’s intervention, Museveni ignored Among and gave Kadaga a letter that blessed the relaunch.
When Museveni lost to Robert Kyagulanyi in Buganda in 2021 presidential Elections, to step back in Greater Masaka, he initially had to send the head of the National Chairman Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo to Buganda’s Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga to first launch the skilling institution for the youth in Masaka.
Political analysts are of the view that Museveni cannot contest-ably regain Busoga support without the Kadaga’s assistance.
Kadaga proved this support when he took over the Kyabazinga of Busoga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope 1V marriage fundraising drive and was instrumental in mobilizing NRM supporters to the historical wedding to Her Royal Highness Jovial Mutesi.
“Museveni’s support to Kadaga is now high because there was an International Conference is Ghana for Speakers and Museveni delegated Kadaga instead of Among; unless Museveni changes his mind, he can’t support Among to dislodge Kadaga,” added the political advisor.
A male MP from Busoga who spoke to this subject said Museveni can’t be predicted on his choice between Kadaga and Among on the Vice Chairman position because when he was commissioning Among’s hospital in Bukedea he said Among was better that both former Speaker Edward Ssekandi in developing their Constituencies.
This legislator says that when Kadaga complained to Museveni later he said he was misquoted.
“Museveni’s support currently is on Kadaga, but depending on the timing, he can change. “At the time when a replacement for late Jacob Oaulanyah arose, initially Museveni was for Okoth Oboth but when he was advised that since Edward Ssekandi and Kadaga were both deputies before they were elected Speaker respectively, NRM should go with Among to save time and not to divide the party, Museveni bought the idea,” says the Legislator. The advantage Kadaga has is that she is loved by the first lady, this makes her safe” the legislator added.
Ms Kadaga is from Kamuli and the Basoga have for years called her Mama Busoga for her dedicated political leadership of the sub-region.
Another source told this online media that the formula for NEC elections would be decided after Tanga Odoi’s contract which is expired and is subject to renewal or replacement.
Among, wife to Moses Magogo FUFA president and an MP is said to have made significant investments in Kadaga’s backyard of Kamuli using her neighboring marital home district of Buyende as a base to engage the Basoga.
By; Siraje Lubwama,
Senior Investigative Journalist in crime, court land matters, human Rights.
Freelance Journalist, Alternative Digitalk