The Deputy Speaker race just got a new name.
Sarah Babirye Kityo, the newly sworn-in MP for Bukoto East in Masaka City, has declared her interest in deputizing Hon. Oboth Oboth for the 2026-2031 term.
Her statement was clear and deliberate:
“After deep reflection and engagement, and guided by the spirit of ‘For God and My Country,’ I am honored to express my interest in serving as Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Uganda 2026-2031. With humility and strong commitment to national service and under the guiding principle of For Accountable Leadership, I look forward to continuing to work alongside other dedicated leaders under the leadership of H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, together with colleagues across Parliament and government, to strengthen our democracy, advance unity, and serve all Ugandans with integrity and purpose.”
That’s not a casual announcement. That’s a bid with language designed to hit both the NRM base and the public mood for cleaner leadership.
Why She’s Running Now
The timing is not accidental.
NRM and PLU have already endorsed Oboth Oboth for Speaker. But there’s no endorsement yet for Deputy Speaker. Thomas Tayebwa, the outgoing deputy, has not been endorsed either.
A day back, Gen. Muhoozi made a public point that the position should go to a woman. That opened the door.
Babirye walked through it.
She’s not a political unknown. She served as Youth Representative for Central Region in Uganda’s 10th Parliament before winning Bukoto East. She also ran the Uganda Netball Federation as President. In both spaces, she built a reputation for being outspoken and unwilling to play the usual games.
The Sports Angle Is Smart
Babirye says her decision is personal.
She claims she faced mistreatment in sports administration, including jail time after refusing to pay kickbacks. She says she got no support when she went to leaders for help when corruption prevailed in netball, and decided to embark on legislative affairs to fight corruption in sports and government from the top.
Whether you believe every detail or not, the story resonates.
Uganda’s sports sector is full of talent and broke on management. Athletes win medals, come home to no money, no facilities, no accountability. Parents spend millions to send kids to trials that go nowhere.
If Babirye makes sports accountability her signature issue, she taps into a frustration that cuts across party lines. Mothers in Lira, youth in Mbale, coaches in Arua all know the pain.
For the ordinary Ugandan, this is not abstract politics. It’s about whether your child can play football without someone demanding a bribe.
What She Brings to the Table
Let’s separate image from substance.
One: Gender balance. Muhoozi said it openly. The ruling camp wants a woman in the chair. Babirye fits that bill. She’s young, she’s a woman, and she has a national profile from sports.
Two: Accountability brand. Her netball story, if she can back it with facts, positions her as anti-kickback. In a Parliament drowning in corruption allegations, that’s currency.
Three: NRM loyalty with PLU crossover. She’s sworn in under NRM but has worked in spaces where PLU has influence. That makes her palatable to both sides at a time when the Speakership is splitting the house.
The Ordinary Person’s View
For the market vendor in Masaka, Babirye is “one of us”.
She’s not a career minister with a mansion in Muyenga. She came through youth structures, fought in sports, and won an MP seat.
People like that because it feels possible. If she makes it to Deputy Speaker, it tells every girl in Kasese that politics isn’t only for men with old money.
But they’ll also watch. If she gets in and goes quiet, she becomes like the rest. The promise is accountability. The test is whether she pushes it when it costs her.
The Elite’s Calculation
For the elite, Babirye is a safe option.
She doesn’t come with the baggage of the current Speakership fight. She hasn’t been named in major scandals. She has media appeal and a clean enough story to sell to donors and the public.
If Oboth Oboth becomes Speaker, having Babirye as deputy gives the pairing balance: older, legal mind plus younger, activist profile. It looks good on TV and in press releases.
But the elite will also ask: Can she control the house? Can she chair chaotic sittings? Can she stand up to senior MPs?
Deputy Speaker is not just a ceremonial role. It’s about discipline, procedure, and sometimes, nerve.
The Risk She Faces
Babirye’s biggest risk is her past.
Her claims about being jailed for refusing kickbacks will invite scrutiny. Opponents will dig. If she can’t produce evidence, it becomes “he said, she said”. If she can, it becomes a weapon against her enemies and a shield for her.
She also risks being boxed in as “the sports MP”. That’s good for branding, bad if she wants to be seen as a national leader on finance, security, and legislation. Good thing is that she was a youth representative, so she knows the art of leadership in all angles.
What Her Win Would Mean
If Babirye becomes Deputy Speaker, three things shift.
First, the tone of Parliament changes. You’d have a Deputy Speaker who came through sports and youth politics. That brings different issues to the floor: doping, athlete welfare, funding for regional tournaments.
Second, the anti-corruption message gets a face. She can’t stop corruption alone, but she can use the chair to demand transparency in committee reports and budgeting.
Third, PLU and NRM get a bridge. She’s acceptable enough to both to keep the house functioning. That matters when the alternative is daily walkouts and fistfights.
The Path to Victory
Babirye doesn’t control the NRM CEC. But she controls the narrative.
She needs to do three things in the next two weeks:
One: Make the accountability case public. Hold a press briefing. Name the systems in sports that failed her. Show she’s not afraid of specifics.
Two: Secure regional support. Masaka, Central, and other regions, Western, Eastern, Northern, West Nile, and the youth structures are her base. If they mobilize, the CEC listens.
Three: Stay out of the Speakership crossfire. Don’t attack Oboth or any vying leader. Position herself as the person who unites, not divides.
Why This Matters Beyond Parliament
Uganda has a youth bulge. 78% of the population is under 30.
Most of them don’t care about Oboth vs. Among. They care about jobs, sports, and whether the system is rigged.
Babirye’s entry gives them someone to watch. If she gets the job and delivers, she becomes a model for youth leadership. If she fails, she becomes proof that even “outsiders” get absorbed.
Either way, her race is a test case for whether new blood can rise without selling out.
Last Word
Sarah Babirye Kityo is not the favorite. She’s not the incumbent. She’s not backed by decades in Cabinet.
But she has timing, a story, and a gap to fill.
Muhoozi said they need a woman. The public wants accountability. The sports sector needs a voice and other sectors at large.
If she can turn those three things into votes in the NRM caucus, she’ll be sitting in the Deputy Speaker’s chair in 2026.
If not, she’s still changed the conversation. And in Ugandan politics, changing the conversation is sometimes the first step to changing the house.
