May 13 is coming, and Parliament is feeling tense like a boda rider on Entebbe Road during rush hour. New MPs will be sworn in, then they’ll go straight to voting for Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Sounds normal. But this time, it’s anything but normal.
The name on everyone’s lips is Anita Among. She’s the current Speaker, she has NRM’s backing, and President Museveni is behind her too. But she’s also carrying heavy baggage — sanctions from US, UK and Canada over that iron sheets scandal. And still she wants to sit in that big chair again.
On the other side, you’ve got challengers like Norbert Mao and Persis Namuganza stepping into the ring. And Parliament’s own spokesperson Chris Obore has already stirred the pot with a post defending Among and saying there’s a plot against her. Then there’s that shooting near her home last week. Now the whole thing feels less like an election and more like a political thriller.
So let’s talk straight. What’s really going on here? And why should the market vendor in Nakawa or the businessman in Kikubo even care who becomes Speaker?
What Ordinary Uganda Is Seeing From The Outside
For the mama selling Irish in Arua, Parliament is far away. But when she hears “sanctions” and “iron sheets”, she understands one thing: “Our leaders are stealing from the poor people in Karamoja.”
And now that same leader wants to be Speaker again? That don’t sit well.
Ordinary Ugandans are tired. They see money meant for Karamoja people ending up in Kampala houses. They see potholes in Kisenyi while MPs drive new cars. So when the Speaker election comes and it looks like the same people are just recycling power among themselves, people lose trust.
The other thing is fear. That shooting near Among’s home — whether it was real or staged — has made people uneasy. “If even the Speaker is not safe, what about me?” That’s the question the bodaboda guy in Kamwokya is asking while waiting for a ride at 9pm.
What Elite Uganda Is Reading Between The Lines
The lawyer in Kololo sees this as a constitutional test. The Speaker is the third most powerful person in Uganda after President and Vice President. The person in that seat controls Parliament debates, controls what bills pass, and controls the tone of the whole House.
So this ain’t just about Anita Among as a person. It’s about whether Parliament remains independent or becomes a rubber stamp.
The donor in Kololo sees it different again. They see sanctions from three Western countries and they think “if we work with this Parliament, will our money be safe?” That affects foreign aid, that affects projects, that affects jobs.
And the NRM insider sees politics. Among delivered for NRM in the last term. She kept the House in line. So Museveni backing her is not surprising. But backing someone under international sanctions? That sends a message both home and abroad. And that message might cost Uganda in future negotiations.
The Challenges Nobody Is Talking About Openly
One: The sanction problem. You can’t ignore that US, UK and Canada have put sanctions on Among. Whether you believe it was fair or not, the reality is she’s now a restricted person in those countries. If she becomes Speaker again, how will she represent Uganda when meeting foreign delegations? Will ambassadors even want to meet her? That’s a real diplomatic headache.
Two: The plot narrative. When Chris Obore says there’s a plot against Among, he’s trying to rally sympathy. But it also raises questions. If there’s really a plot, who is behind it? And if there’s no plot, then why say it? Either way, it makes Parliament look divided even before the new MPs sit down.
Three: The challengers. Norbert Mao is experienced. Persis Namuganza is bold and has her own support base. But both are going against the NRM machine. And in Uganda, going against the machine is not easy. Unless they have serious numbers behind them, this might just be symbolic.
Four: The secret ballot. This is the only thing giving hope to some MPs. Because it’s secret, they can vote their conscience without fear. But secret ballot also means deals happen behind closed doors. Money can change hands. Promises can be made. So nobody really knows what will happen until the votes are counted.
What This Means For The Common Man In Kampala
Let’s be honest. Whether it’s Among or Mao or Namuganza, the mama in Kisenyi still wants her yaka to work. The student in Kisoro still wants fees to come down. The small trader in Kikuubo still wants taxes to be fair.
The Speaker can’t fix potholes directly. But the Speaker can decide what bills get debated. The Speaker can decide whether Parliament holds government accountable or just claps for government.
If we get a Speaker who is strong and independent, maybe we’ll see more oversight on how public money is spent. Maybe we’ll see less of the iron sheets situation happening again.
If we get a Speaker who is just there to protect the ruling party, then it’s business as usual. Parliament becomes a talking shop while the real decisions happen elsewhere.
The Bigger Picture: Trust Is On The Line
This election is happening at a time when Ugandans don’t trust Parliament much. The iron sheets scandal broke that trust. The sanctions made it worse. And now this election feels like a test: “Are we going to pretend nothing happened, or are we going to clean house?”
If Among wins again despite the sanctions, it tells Ugandans that power matters more than accountability. That’s a dangerous message for young people who are watching.
If Among loses, it tells Ugandans that no one is untouchable. That institutions can still work. That votes can still matter. That’s a powerful message too.
What Should Happen For Uganda’s Sake
First: Let the MPs vote freely. No intimidation. No money. No threats. Let them choose who they think can lead Parliament with integrity.
Second: Parliament must rebuild trust. Whoever wins needs to start by being transparent. Publish how money is spent. Open committee meetings to public scrutiny. Stop the culture of secrecy.
Third: Don’t ignore the sanctions. Whether we like it or not, the world is watching. Uganda needs friends internationally for trade, for aid, for investment. The Speaker represents the whole country, not just NRM.
Fourth: Focus on service delivery. Enough of drama. Enough of allegations. The 12th Parliament needs to pass laws that help the farmer in Luwero, the teacher in Soroti, the nurse in Gulu. That’s what people care about at the end of the day.
The Last Word: It’s More Than One Person
This Speaker election is not just about Anita Among. It’s not just about Norbert Mao. It’s not just about Persis Namuganza.
It’s about what kind of Parliament we want for the next five years. A Parliament that works for the people, or a Parliament that works for power?
The MPs have the vote. But Ugandans have the eyes. And we’re watching.
Because when Parliament fails, it’s not the Speaker who suffers alone. It’s the student without books. It’s the patient without medicine. It’s the boda rider without good roads.
And that’s the Uganda we can’t afford anymore.
