MPs Asiimwe, Wanyoto, keep hopes of leading 12th Parliament alive

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Masindi district woman MP Dr Florence Asiimwe Akiiki and counterpart Mbale city woman MP Lydia Wanyoto have maintained their bids for the top leadership of Parliament.

This is despite growing momentum behind West Budama legislator Jacob Oboth-Oboth following his public endorsement by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) for Speaker of the 12th Parliament.

The political contest for Parliament’s top offices has taken a new twist after the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba-led Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), withdrew its earlier backing for former Speaker Anita Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa to retain the parliamentary leadership.

Among, who is facing investigations by security agencies over allegations of illicit wealth accumulation and money laundering, has increasingly found herself politically isolated within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), where she serves as the party’s third national vice chairperson (female).

The situation has further shifted in favour of Oboth-Oboth after Muhoozi publicly endorsed him through a series of social media posts, significantly boosting the outgoing defence minister’s political standing within sections of the ruling establishment.

Over the weekend, ministers, MPs and other dignitaries thronged Oboth-Oboth’s residence in Mukono district for thanksgiving prayers, even as security agencies carried out coordinated raids on properties and residences linked to Among in Nakasero, Kololo and Kigo in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

Among has since announced that she will not seek re-election pending the outcome of the investigations.

However, Wanyoto and Asiimwe have insisted that they remain firmly in contention for Parliament’s top offices and are awaiting the formal opening of the nomination process by the NRM Electoral Commission.

Addressing a joint press conference in Kampala on Monday (May 18, 2026), the two legislators said they would officially express interest once the party's electoral body invites nominations for speaker and deputy speaker.

Wanyoto described the coming week as decisive for the leadership of the 12th Parliament as the NRM begins internal consultations and caucus deliberations to determine its flag bearers.

“This is a very important week where we are going to decide, through the caucus process, who becomes the speaker and deputy speaker as part of the NRM flag bearers,” Wanyoto said.

She thanked President Yoweri Museveni for intervening to clarify the selection process after concerns emerged earlier this year that some aspirants had been locked out through what she termed a “purported CEC resolution.”

According to Wanyoto, several aspirants petitioned Museveni, arguing that established party procedures had been ignored.

“Rule number nine of the Rules of Procedure had not been followed,” she said.

Wanyoto explained that during the recent NRM retreat in Kyankwanzi, the President assured members that there would be room for aspirants to formally express interest and canvass support within the caucus before candidates are selected.

“There will be a call for expression of interest, and we shall have a caucus where we will discuss how we get a Speaker and Deputy Speaker,” she said.

Caucus calculations

Although she reiterated her interest in the speakership, Wanyoto acknowledged that discussions within the party increasingly point to the possibility of a male speaker succeeding Among, following the tenure of a female speaker.

“The consensus being built is that the man is likely to be the speaker, because we have just had a woman Speaker, and the other position would be Deputy Speaker,” she noted.

In what appeared to be an acknowledgement of Oboth-Oboth’s growing influence within the race, Wanyoto said she was equally prepared to contest for deputy speaker should the party settle on him for speaker.

“If the deputy speakership is reserved for women, I will be the first to take it up,” she said, adding that she remains “in the race” until the final arrangement is adopted by the caucus.

Wanyoto also urged fellow aspirants to focus on competence, institutional reform and restoring public confidence in Parliament instead of promoting personality-driven politics.

“We did not envisage any other basis except competence, focusing on management and raising the bar of leadership in the legislature,” she said.

Meanwhile, Asiimwe used the press conference to launch a scathing attack on Among’s leadership, accusing the outgoing Speaker of weakening parliamentary oversight structures, centralising authority and frustrating committee operations.

Speaking emotionally, Asiimwe said she had long warned Ugandans about what she described as dangerous trends within Parliament under Among’s leadership.

“Jesus was hated, was even crucified. Why? Because he was telling the truth,” Asiimwe said, before adding: “Now everybody has realised that what Dr Florence Asiimwe was saying was actually correct.”

She accused Among of presiding over a system in which parliamentary committees were denied operational funds despite Parliament receiving a huge budget allocation.

As deputy chairperson of the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, Asiimwe said her committee repeatedly failed to secure facilitation for oversight activities.

“I asked for money to go and do oversight with my committee members. They said there is no money,” she said.

According to Asiimwe, committees, which she described as “the engine” of Parliament, had been deliberately “suffocated,” thereby weakening accountability, oversight and service delivery.

She further accused Among of sidelining the Parliamentary Business Committee, arguing that Parliament had become overly personalised under her leadership.

“She killed the business committee. We are not sitting towards one woman’s show,” Asiimwe said.

The Masindi legislator also criticised what she described as declining institutional discipline within Parliament, saying the House had increasingly operated “as if it’s a marketplace.”

The two legislators said the next leadership of Parliament must prioritise restoring accountability, strengthening committee systems and rebuilding public trust in the legislature.