Veteran politician and former Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, has voiced her disappointment and hinted at a possible exit from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) following a decisive defeat in the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections.
Kadaga lost the position of Second National Vice-Chairperson (Female) to current Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in a landslide vote. Among garnered a staggering 11,680 votes — amounting to 92% while Kadaga managed just 7.2% of the 902 ballots cast.
While some political observers had anticipated the outcome, it has nonetheless sent shockwaves through the party, signaling a significant shift in its internal power structure and raising fresh concerns about electoral integrity within the NRM.
In the wake of her defeat, Kadaga took to social media to thank her supporters and decry what she described as widespread malpractice during the elections. She cited “massive voter bribery and intimidation” and condemned what she termed a “gross abuse of office.”
“We cherish our party, but if this oppression persists, we shall be left with no choice but to walk away.”,Kadaga wrote
These remarks echo similar accusations she made during the campaign period, claiming that votes were being bought for up to UGX 300,000 and that delegates were being lured with high-end gadgets such as smartphones and iPads. Some of these claims were supported by independent monitors, who suspended voting in certain electoral leagues due to suspected irregularities.
The election has been widely seen as a clash of generations and ideologies within the NRM. Kadaga, a founding member with more than four decades of service, positioned herself as a staunch defender of the party’s founding principles.
She openly challenged Among’s relatively recent entry into the NRM, arguing that her opponent did not meet the ten-year contribution threshold required for such a senior role.
Kadaga also criticized the concentration of power in Among’s hands, noting her dual roles as Speaker and now Vice-Chairperson, warning of the dangers of centralizing influence.
Among, in contrast, campaigned as a symbol of generational change, promoting unity and progress. Her message struck a chord with the delegates, ultimately propelling her to a resounding victory.
In her acceptance speech, Among struck a reconciliatory tone. She thanked her supporters for the landslide win and extended an olive branch to her rival.
“I want to express my gratitude to our mother, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, for running an excellent campaign and for her invaluable contributions to the party and the country. We will continue to rely on her for wisdom and guidance moving forward,” Among said.
Daily Spear Ug will provide updates as new developments arise.
