State House, Entebbe | The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) was thrown into unprecedented turmoil on Saturday after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni clashed with First Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga over the race for the party’s First National Vice Chairperson (Female), setting the stage for one of the most explosive internal contests in years.
The storm erupted during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where Kadaga, the incumbent, delivered a fiery, emotional speech accusing the party’s leadership of abandoning loyalty, seniority, and long-term service in favor of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, whom she dismissed as a political newcomer with only three years of service in NRM.
“I have been a member of this party since inception. I started as an LC1 chairperson in 1999. I have never joined any other party. My loyalty is unquestionable,” Kadaga thundered, drawing loud applause from sections of the NEC.
She went further, warning of dangerous divisions if the contest was mishandled: “Mr. Chairman, I have told you before that if this goes to a contest, it will cause serious problems in my community. You may think you are fighting me, but you are fighting a bigger community. That’s not right for the politics of Uganda.”
Kadaga also attacked Among’s candidacy, branding it a violation of party fairness:
“If she’s already sitting here ex-officio, why is she running again? How can one person sit in two positions? This sends a wrong signal about fairness in our party. Are loyalty and commitment no longer valued in NRM?”
Museveni Steps In
Faced with rising tempers, President Museveni attempted to calm the storm, warning both women that their feud risked tearing the party apart ahead of the 2026 general elections. He proposed a compromise: that one steps aside, and he would nominate the other to the powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC).
“My way is always win-win; I don’t like win-lose. I proposed that the two of you agree — one steps down, and I would nominate the other to CEC. But since no one wants to be guided, we leave it to the delegates to decide,” Museveni said.
But neither Kadaga nor Among was willing to budge, forcing Museveni to throw the matter to the upcoming National Delegates’ Conference for resolution.
“Since no one is willing to be guided, let the people decide. We go to elections at the delegates’ conference and settle this,” he declared, closing the heated debate.
Party on the Brink
The decision now sets up a high-stakes showdown between Kadaga and Among at next week’s Delegates’ Conference, exposing widening cracks in the NRM at a time when the party is seeking to project unity and strength ahead of the 2026 elections.
Kadaga’s supporters argue that her removal would be a betrayal of loyalty and sacrifice, while Among’s backers insist that her meteoric rise reflects a new generation of leadership within the ruling party.
The Stakes
Political observers warn that if Kadaga is fought and ultimately denied victory, President Museveni may face a rough road in the 2026 elections, particularly in the Busoga region where Kadaga commands immense influence. Beyond her personal fate, the outcome of the CEC vote on this position is expected to shape the very future of the NRM — testing whether the party will continue to value its senior, long-serving cadres or tilt in favor of ambitious newcomers.
Already, whispers of money exchanging hands among delegates and CEC officials have sparked fears that the ruling party could be dragged to the dogs by transactional politics instead of making sound, principled decisions.
As the NRM’s most powerful organ prepares for what promises to be a bruising electoral battle, insiders warn that the confrontation risks spilling beyond the party structures, potentially destabilizing its traditional base in Busoga and western Uganda.
For now, the NRM waits with bated breath. What was meant to be a routine endorsement has morphed into a battle for the party’s soul — a contest that will test Museveni’s ability to hold together a movement increasingly riven by ambition, suspicion, and rivalry.
