Wanyoto hopeful sanity will prevail in speakership race

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Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, who is contesting for the Speakership of the 12th Parliament, says she is hopeful sanity will prevail in the race following President Yoweri Museveni’s anti-corruption stance in Kyankwanzi.

The Mbale City Woman Member of Parliament-elect said the President’s position will foster sanity in the Speakership race, which is already gathering pace.

“I want to commit that this is the route I have always taken and that is how I have always presented myself, as an ideological cadre of the NRM {National Resistance Movement} that cannot be corrupted, because that is the biggest threat of the NRM government,” Wanyoto said.

Speaking during the closure of the week-long NRM Kyankwanzi retreat at the president's farm in Ngoma in Nakaseke district last week, Museveni cautioned those seeking positions of parliamentary leadership to desist from using money or bribes to entice the NRM Parliamentary Caucus.

“I do not want to hear that people who are looking for offices are giving bribes. If we hear that, you will be disqualified from any office. It will be a technical knockout. If someone gives you money, please do not touch it. Tell them 'do not bring me kisirani (bad luck)',” Museveni said.

The President insisted he does not want to hear of corruption in Parliament, saying it will be suicide for those who engage in the vice in the 12th House.

Wanyoto told reporters at a press conference in Kampala on April 18, 2026, that corruption remains a real threat to the attainment of Uganda’s ambitious development projections.

“We have listed priorities of the party in our manifesto. We have talked about building the economy tenfold. But one of the biggest threats is corruption, and corruption begins on the way we get to offices,” Wanyoto said.

According to Wanyoto, the 12th Parliament legislative agenda is critical for the attainment of the 2026 to 2031 manifesto, the National Development Plan IV and Vision 2040, all aimed at achieving a modern and prosperous society.

She stressed that loopholes undermining the attainment of development goals should be addressed through legislation.

“If there are any gaps to deliver the manifesto, we will evolve policies and legislation that will now then deliver. We just need to plunge the gaps. There will be emerging issues that will help us deliver the manifesto aligned to the budget, the national development plan and even the new projections of the tenfold,” Wanyoto said.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has since been endorsed by the NRM Central Executive Committee to steer the 12th Parliament alongside her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa.

However, according to Wanyoto, Museveni’s Kyankwanzi clarification that the Central Executive Committee is not a voter in the speakership race, but that the NRM Parliamentary Caucus determines the outcome, has kept the contest open.

“It cleared the public air, including the media, that whoever wants to contest for speakership of the 12th Parliament under the NRM, this space is still open, and it is good for not only the NRM, but for Uganda,” Wanyoto said.

She added, “Therefore, I am here to re-echo my interest of expression of interest for the Speaker of the 12th Parliament through the NRM party.”

Justice and constitutional affairs minister and Democratic Party president general, Nobert Mao, is also lobbying for the parliamentary top job.

The Laroo Pece MP-elect is running his campaign on a platform of restoring parliamentary integrity and experience.

Persis Namuganza, the lands, Housing and urban development state minister and MP for Bukono County, is also eyeing the position.

Other aspirants include Dr Florence Asiimwe Akiiki, Masindi District Woman MP, and Yorke Alioni Odria, Aringa South MP.

Wanyoto rallied colleagues intending to contest for the speakership to follow the directive of the President and the NRM ideology.

“So, while I won convincingly the election in Mbale city, I would want to win convincingly the deployment of speakership of the Parliament of Uganda,” Wanyoto said.