Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba has endorsed Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to retain his position in the upcoming 12th Parliament, signaling deepening coordination between the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) ahead of crucial parliamentary leadership elections.
In a post published Monday on X, Muhoozi said the endorsement followed guidance from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and would be backed by PLU-aligned legislators.
“On the issue of Deputy Speaker, after getting guidance from the Commander-in-Chief, all PLU MPs and PLU leaning MPs will support Rt. Honourable Thomas Tayebwa for that position. Congratulations Rt. Honourable,” Muhoozi wrote.
The announcement came days before Parliament is expected to elect its Speaker and Deputy Speaker on May 25 during the opening phase of the 12th Parliament.
Tayebwa later responded publicly, thanking Muhoozi and President Museveni for the endorsement and pledging cooperation with Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth, who has emerged as a leading contender for Speaker after receiving support from influential figures within NRM circles.
“Thank you very much my senior brother and Chairman for your kind endorsement. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mzee H.E the President for the trust and confidence in me. Looking forward to working closely and harmoniously with my senior brother Hon Oboth-Oboth,” Tayebwa posted on X.
The endorsement is widely viewed as part of a broader political realignment following the dramatic collapse of support for outgoing Speaker Anita Among, who recently withdrew from the Speakership race amid corruption investigations and security raids targeting her properties.
PLU, a political pressure group associated with Muhoozi, had previously been seen as sympathetic to Among but appears to have shifted support following the widening probes into allegations of illicit enrichment, money laundering and undeclared assets.
Political observers say the apparent alliance between Oboth-Oboth and Tayebwa could significantly shape the leadership structure of the next Parliament, especially given NRM’s dominant majority in the House.
The latest developments also reinforce Muhoozi’s growing influence within Uganda’s political establishment, with the First Son increasingly weighing in on major government and parliamentary matters through public statements and online mobilization.
In another post, Muhoozi suggested that female MPs aligned to PLU and NRM would also receive political consideration from the President.
“As for our beautiful and gracious female MPs, supporters of PLU and NRM. The President assured me he has catered adequately for his female supporters,” he wrote.
The comments sparked mixed reactions online, with supporters interpreting them as evidence of strong internal coordination within the ruling establishment ahead of the parliamentary elections.
Critics, however, questioned the consistency of the government’s anti-corruption messaging, noting that some leaders now being endorsed have previously faced public scrutiny over governance and accountability issues.
Political commentator Jim Spire Ssentongo weighed into the debate, asking online: “If we are to predict basing on government’s history of ‘fighting corruption’ in big offices, how do you think the Anita saga will end?”
The Speakership and Deputy Speakership contests are expected to be among the most closely watched political events as Uganda’s 12th Parliament begins its five-year term amid growing public demands for accountability, institutional reform and anti-corruption action.
