Ngoma, Nakaseke — If political jibes were the currency of the week at Kyankwanzi, then a warm embrace was the gold standard at Ngoma.
In a striking image that has quickly defined the conclusion of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders’ retreat, Speakership rivals Norbert Mao and Anita Among were captured in a moment of genuine laughter and a friendly embrace at President Yoweri Museveni’s private farm in Ngoma, Nakaseke District.
The scene stands in sharp contrast to the tactical manoeuvres and public “back-and-forth” that characterised the intensive retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI).
For onlookers, the photo is a masterclass in Ugandan political theatre: a reminder that even in the heat of a high-stakes race for the third-highest office in the land, there is always room for a “diplomatic ceasefire” under the watchful eye of the National Chairman.
If this were Hollywood, the two political rivals would have scooped an Oscar award in “political optics”.
A Tale of Two Rivals
The rivalry between Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao and the incumbent Speaker Anita Among has been one of the most talked-about subplots of the 2026 political season.
Throughout the week-long retreat at Kyankwanzi, the two heavyweights reportedly traded sophisticated political jabs, each seeking to bolster their credentials before the newly elected NRM caucus.
However, as the “class of 2026” moved from the lecture halls of NALI to the rolling pastures of the President’s farm, the atmosphere shifted from competitive to celebratory.
The “Ngoma Spirit”
The photo, showing both leaders in their UPDF-style green fatigues, captures a moment of shared humanity that often gets lost in the fog of political warfare.
Sources at the farm suggest the laughter followed a lighthearted exchange about the rigours of the retreat and the upcoming parliamentary session.
President Museveni, acting as the ultimate host and party mediator, is expected to address the gathering shortly. His speech will precede the reading and adoption of the retreat’s official resolutions—a moment where the party will look to project total unity ahead of the first session of the new Parliament.
Unity or Strategy?
For political analysts, the “Ngoma Embrace” is open to interpretation. While some see it as a sign of deep-seated political maturity, others view it as a strategic performance for an “audience of one.”
Both candidates are acutely aware that the path to the Speakership often requires the blessing of the party’s top leadership.
By sharing a laugh in the President’s backyard, Mao and Among have signalled that regardless of who eventually wields the gavel, the “Movement” remains a single, cohesive unit.
As the retreat winds down and the MPs prepare to head back to Kampala, this image remains the most potent symbol of the week: a reminder that in Uganda, today’s rival can easily be tomorrow’s closest ally—especially when the “finish line” is in sight.
