KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has endorsed State Minister for Defence Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, in a move that further reshapes the battle for leadership in the House.
In a post published on X on May 15, Gen. Muhoozi described Oboth-Oboth as “the best Minister in our government for the past five years” and declared him his preferred candidate for Speaker for the 2026 to 2031 parliamentary term.
The endorsement comes days after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), led by Gen. Muhoozi, withdrew support for incumbent Speaker Anita Annet Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda, a close ally to the Speaker, Anita Among announced the withdrawal shortly after Museveni announced the term as “No Sleep” and “No Corruption”.
The decision has intensified the race for control of the 12th Parliament ahead of the expected Speaker election on 25th May.
Why Oboth-Oboth Is Emerging as the Preferred Candidate
Oboth-Oboth is widely viewed within ruling National Resistance Movement circles as experienced, calm and less controversial compared to other contenders.
Born in Tororo on April 13, 1971, the lawyer and intellectual property expert has served as MP for West Budama County South since 2011. He first entered Parliament as an independent before later joining the NRM.
He currently serves as State Minister for Defence in charge of General Duties and has chaired several influential parliamentary committees, including Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Rules and Privileges, and Natural Resources.
Supporters describe him as disciplined, loyal to the party establishment and capable of restoring stability in Parliament after years of growing public criticism directed at the House leadership.
Unlike the confrontational and highly visible political style that defined Among’s tenure, Oboth-Oboth is being presented as a quieter consensus builder with strong institutional grounding.
Many believe the endorsement signals an attempt by powerful actors within the ruling establishment to reset Parliament’s public image ahead of the next political cycle.
The Rise of Anita Among
Among’s political rise was one of the fastest in recent Ugandan history.
Born on Nov. 23, 1973 in Bukedea District, she grew up in a large polygamous family before building a career in banking and academia. She worked at Centenary Bank from 1998 to 2006, rising from cleaner to branch manager, while later lecturing accounting at Kampala International University and Makerere University Business School.
She joined elective politics after two failed attempts to become Bukedea Woman MP. In 2016 she won the seat as an independent candidate after disagreements with the Forum for Democratic Change.
In 2020 she crossed to the NRM and secured the party ticket before being returned unopposed in the 2021 elections.
Her political fortunes rose rapidly after she was elected Deputy Speaker in May 2021. Following the death of Speaker Jacob Oulanyah in March 2022, Among won the Speakership with an overwhelming majority.
She soon became one of the most influential figures in Uganda’s political system and transformed the Speakership into a major center of political mobilization.
Through her foundation and constituency projects, Among financed hospitals, schools, sports facilities and community programs in Bukedea. She also played a central role in attracting opposition figures into the ruling party and strengthening NRM networks across the country.
Her supporters called her “Mama Speaker,” while allies within government praised her for keeping Parliament functional and politically aligned with President Yoweri Museveni.
The Lifestyle That Became a Political Burden
Despite her achievements, Anita Annet Among increasingly came under criticism both inside and outside the ruling party over her growing display of wealth. Her tenure also coincided with a sharp rise in parliamentary spending, including increased per diem allowances for MPs and officials, further fueling public scrutiny over extravagance within Parliament.
Public concern first intensified in 2022 after Parliament purchased luxury Mercedes Benz S500 vehicles for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker at a cost of more than Shs 2 billion.
Attention later shifted to her lavish country residence in Bukedea and her expanding political influence.
The biggest controversy emerged in May 2026 after reports surfaced that a Rolls Royce Cullinan 2025 model linked to Among had been imported from the United Kingdom at an estimated total cost approaching Shs 4 billion.
The vehicle reportedly attracted more than Shs 1 billion in taxes.
Although Among maintained that the vehicle was a gift and not purchased using public funds, the timing triggered widespread backlash on social media and within sections of the political establishment.
Critics argued that the display of extreme luxury came at a time when many Ugandans were struggling with high living costs, poor health services and unemployment.
The controversy revived scrutiny over previous corruption allegations tied to the Karamoja iron sheets scandal, which had already led to sanctions against Among and her husband Moses Magogo by the United Kingdom and the United States in 2024.
Inside the ruling party, concerns also grew that Among’s expanding political influence and national visibility were turning her into an independent power center.
Rumours that she harboured presidential ambitions for 2031 further deepened suspicion among some senior political actors, despite her public denial.
Why PLU Turned Against Among
PLU’s withdrawal of support is widely being interpreted as both a political and image management decision.
The group has increasingly positioned itself as a movement focused on discipline, patriotism and fighting corruption within government structures.
Backing Among after the luxury car controversy would likely have undermined that message.
Political analysts also believe the decision reflects wider unease within sections of the NRM establishment over Among’s growing control of patronage networks in Parliament and her ability to independently mobilise MPs.
Her rapid rise, expanding wealth and strong national profile made her influential, but also politically vulnerable.
The endorsement of Oboth-Oboth therefore appears aimed at presenting a safer and less controversial alternative capable of rebuilding confidence in Parliament while remaining acceptable to both PLU and the wider NRM leadership.
President Museveni’s final position is still expected to play a decisive role in determining the eventual outcome of the Speakership race.
