By A storm erupted inside the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) National Executive Council (NEC) on Monday as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga clashed over her bid to retain the powerful position of NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female).
Kadaga, the incumbent, delivered a fiery defense of her candidacy, accusing the party leadership of disregarding loyalty and long-term service in favor of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, whom she described as a “newcomer” with little track record in the party.
“I have been a member of this party since its inception. I started as an LC1 chairperson in 1999. I have never joined any other party. My loyalty is unquestionable,” Kadaga told delegates, drawing loud applause.
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She argued that the party’s own nomination rules require aspirants to demonstrate at least ten years of service to the NRM a requirement she said that Among does not meet.
“The person aspiring to this office has only worked for three years. Whether she was doing work elsewhere is her business, but for NRM, it is only three years. We cannot gerrymander the rules,” Kadaga charged.
The former Speaker also reminded the NEC of her decades of service, from rallying support in national campaigns to ensuring budgets passed in Parliament and promoting Uganda abroad. But she warned of political consequences if her candidacy was undermined.
“I was publicly humiliated when I was removed as Speaker, and I took it in good stride. How much more can you push an individual? You may think you are fighting me, but you are fighting a bigger community. That’s not right for the politics of Uganda,” Kadaga cautioned.
President Museveni, however, cut her short in a rare and stinging rebuke.
“Rebecca, you don’t own Busoga. You were not there when I was working with the previous kings, so you should sit down,” he said, sparking murmurs in the hall.
Museveni defended the Central Executive Committee (CEC) process, insisting that no aspirants had been forced out and that withdrawals were voluntary. He disclosed that he had even proposed a “win-win” arrangement for Kadaga and Among, but neither was willing to step aside.
“My way is always win-win; I don’t like win-lose. I proposed that the two of you agree — one steps down, and I would nominate the other to CEC. But since no one wants to be guided, we leave it to the delegates to decide,” he said.
Kadaga also questioned why Speaker Among, already an ex-officio member of the CEC, was seeking the same seat.
“If she’s already sitting here ex officio, why is she running again? How can one person sit in two positions? This sends a wrong signal about fairness in our party,” she said.
The President eventually closed the heated debate by throwing the matter to the upcoming National Delegates’ Conference, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown between Kadaga and Among.
The contest now threatens to deepen cracks within the ruling party ahead of the 2026 elections, with loyalty, power, and regional politics all colliding in the NRM’s most consequential internal battle in years.
