What was supposed to be a calm political retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Thursday quickly turned into something between a family meeting and a reality TV showdown.
At the center of the drama: Speaker Anita Among and Justice Minister Norbert Mao—and yes, a “bedroom” metaphor that stole the show.
Among, who wants to keep her Speaker’s seat in the 12th Parliament, made it crystal clear that political cooperation has limits. And she didn’t use small words.
“We can cooperate with other parties,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean you enter my bedroom. You stay in the compound. The bedroom this time is the speakership.”
Translation? Work together, sure—but don’t get too comfortable.
Norbert Mao, leader of the Democratic Party, was not amused. He fired back online almost immediately, swapping metaphors but keeping the heat. He branded Speaker Anita Among as an adopted child, noting that she also crossed to the National Resistance Movement from the Forum for Democratic Change.
“This is not just bad politics—it’s bad manners,” he said. “In a home, only the head of the family decides who enters which room. And when you insult your father’s visitors, you’ve insulted your father.”
In short: if this were a family house, everyone is now arguing at the gate.
Just when it looked like sides were being drawn, President Yoweri Museveni stepped in—calmly, but in a way that shook the table.
Addressing newly elected MPs at the retreat, Museveni reminded them that the ruling party’s top organ had only recommended leaders, not locked them in.
“The CEC gave its view,” he said, referring to the National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee, “but it is not the final decision. We shall discuss everyone who is interested at the right time.”
And just like that, the race—previously thought to be a done deal—was back on.
Earlier, the party had backed Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa to continue in their roles. That endorsement, made in February, had given the impression that challengers should probably start looking elsewhere.
Not anymore.
With Museveni reopening the conversation, hopefuls are circling again. Among those eyeing the Speaker’s chair are State Minister Persis Namuganza, Mbale City Woman MP-elect Lydia Wanyoto, and Aringa South MP Alioni Yorke Odria.
The final decision will come after MPs are sworn in this May, when the NRM caucus picks its official flag bearers.
