Fresh political tensions have emerged within Uganda’s ruling coalition after the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly urged Justice Minister Norbert Mao to withdraw from the race for Speaker of Parliament.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Gen. Muhoozi appealed directly to Mao, writing: “I respectfully request my big brother… to not run for Speaker of Parliament. Please listen to your younger brother. We can get better positions.”
The remarks come amid an escalating dispute within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its coalition partners over control of the influential Speaker position ahead of the 12th Parliament.
The contest has also drawn in the incumbent Speaker, Anita Among, who reportedly cautioned coalition partners during a recent NRM retreat against contesting for the top parliamentary seat. Her comments are said to have triggered a sharp response from Mao, who described the remarks as “bad manners” and called for a fair and open vetting process.
The dispute highlights underlying strains within the coalition, particularly as the NRM maintains a dominant majority in Parliament, giving it significant influence over leadership positions.
Political analysts say the Speaker race is a critical power center in Uganda’s governance structure, overseeing legislative business and playing a key role in shaping parliamentary priorities.
The developments come just weeks before the swearing-in of the 12th Parliament, scheduled between May 13 and 15, 2026, raising the stakes for negotiations and internal consensus-building within the ruling alliance.
While Mao has not publicly indicated any intention to step down, the growing public exchanges signal a potentially contentious battle for one of the country’s most powerful legislative offices.
