A dramatic political twist has emerged within the ruling camp after the Patriotic League of Uganda officially withdrew its earlier endorsement of Speaker Anita Annet Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa ahead of the 12th Parliament leadership race. In a statement dated May 12, 2026, and signed by PLU Secretary General David Kabanda, the pressure […]
A dramatic political twist has emerged within the ruling camp after the Patriotic League of Uganda officially withdrew its earlier endorsement of Speaker Anita Annet Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa ahead of the 12th Parliament leadership race.
In a statement dated May 12, 2026, and signed by PLU Secretary General David Kabanda, the pressure group led by the Commander Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that its March 11 endorsement of the two parliamentary leaders had been “retracted and withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The unexpected reversal is likely to fuel fresh speculation and political anxiety within the ruling establishment as the battle for top parliamentary offices intensifies.
The statement revealed that Muhoozi, who serves as chairman of PLU, had initially guided all PLU-leaning Members of Parliament-elect to support Among for Speaker and Tayebwa for Deputy Speaker.
However, the latest communication says the organization will now wait for guidance from President Yoweri Museveni before backing candidates for the influential positions.
“The leadership of the Patriotic League of Uganda encourages its Hon. Members Elect to support the candidates that will be presented to them by H.E. the President for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker,” the statement reads in part.
The statement further atated that members of PLU are expected to follow the command and guidance of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba “at all times.”
The development has immediately sparked political debate, with neitezens interpreting the move as a sign of shifting alliances and behind-the-scenes negotiations within the ruling National Resistance Movement camp.
Neither Among nor Tayebwa had publicly responded to the withdrawal by press time.
The race for Speaker and Deputy Speaker is expected to dominate political discussions as newly elected MPs prepare for the swearing in on Wednesday and Thrusday and further opening of the 12th Parliament.
The battle for the Speaker’s chair in Uganda’s 12th Parliament is turning into one of the biggest political showdowns inside the ruling establishment, with Speaker Anita Annet Among now facing growing pressure from Justice Minister Norbert Mao.
Mao has positioned himself as the “anti-corruption reform candidate,” openly criticizing extravagance and alleged corruption in Parliament while promising to “restore public trust” in the August House.
The race intensified after controversy erupted over reports linking Among to a luxury Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly worth billions of shillings, sparking public debate about wealth, corruption and lavish spending by top government officials.
Adding fuel to the fire, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba recently distanced himself from the luxury vehicle saga and hinted that the Patriotic League of Uganda could back its own candidate for Speaker.
Gen. Kainerugaba publicly weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding a reported Rolls Royce linked to Speaker Anita Annet Among.
In remarks shared on his social media platform X, Gen. Muhoozi distanced himself from luxury lifestyles and questioned the symbolism of high-end vehicles among public leaders, saying he had never personally driven a Rolls Royce.
He further stated, according to his post, that even at 52 years of age, neither he nor his father, President Yoweri Museveni, had ever driven such a vehicle.
The comments come at a time when public debate has intensified over the reported acquisition of a luxury vehicle estimated to cost billions of shillings, a matter that has fueled wider scrutiny of corruption risks, accountability in public office, and the lifestyles of senior officials.
While Gen. Muhoozi did not directly accuse any individual of wrongdoing, his intervention has been widely interpreted as politically significant.
