KAMPALA – The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) has endorsed Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among and Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa as the party’s preferred candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament respectively in the forthcoming 12th Parliament.
The endorsement was reached during a CEC sitting held on Tuesday, 2nd, and effectively positions the two incumbents to fly the ruling party’s flag when Parliament convenes to elect its leadership.
Party sources say the endorsed names will now be presented to the NRM parliamentary caucus for endorsement, a key procedural step ahead of the election of Parliament’s leadership.
The CEC decision appears to have extinguished the ambitions of Bushenyi–Ishaka Municipality MP-elect Hajji Iddi Basajjabalaba, who had publicly expressed interest in contesting for the Deputy Speaker’s seat shortly after his election. Hajji Iddi is the son of businessman and NRM Entrepreneurs League chairperson, Al Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba.
Sources familiar with the closed-door meeting revealed that Al Hajji Basajjabalaba opposed Tayebwa’s endorsement, accusing the Deputy Speaker of having worked against him during last year’s internal party elections. However, it remains unclear whether this dispute directly influenced Hajji Iddi Basajjabalaba’s decision to declare his bid.
Another source indicated that Hajji Iddi Basajjabalaba’s candidacy did not feature prominently during deliberations at the State House meeting.
Profiles of the Endorsed Leaders
Rt. Hon. Anita Among, a lawyer by training, became Speaker of Parliament in 2022 following the death of Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah. She made history as the first woman to hold the office.
Among represents Bukedea District as the Woman Member of Parliament and first entered Parliament in 2016 during the 10th Parliament under then Speaker Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga.
Her leadership of the 11th Parliament has seen the enactment of more than 23 pieces of legislation, among them the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, the National Coffee (Amendment) Act, and amendments to the Petroleum Supply Act.
Among has championed a people-focused Parliament, promoted women’s participation in governance, strengthened ties with regional legislative bodies, and supported infrastructure development initiatives, particularly in Bukedea District.
Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, the Member of Parliament for Ruhinda North County, has served in the Legislature since 2016. Prior to his elevation, he served as Government Chief Whip and sat on several key parliamentary committees, including National Economy and Natural Resources.
Known for his steady handling of parliamentary business, Tayebwa has focused on improving legislative efficiency and strengthening economic and social policy frameworks.
During his term as Deputy Speaker, Tayebwa spearheaded reforms in intellectual property law to support innovation, advocated for the inclusion and protection of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and expanded Uganda’s presence on international parliamentary platforms.
In February 2025, he was elected President of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly, as well as Co-Chair of the OACPS–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Constitutional Role of the Speaker
Article 82 of the Constitution provides for the election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker by Members of Parliament from among their peers.
The Speaker presides over all sittings of Parliament and chairs key bodies including the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments, and the Business Committee. As head of the Legislature, the Speaker represents Parliament in its official engagements and, after consultation with the President, may prorogue Parliament and determine the venue and timing of parliamentary sittings.
