Museveni, Muhoozi Back Tayebwa for Deputy Speaker: PLU Returns to Tayebwa Camp as Speakership Race Intensifies. NUP Fronts Paul Mwiru as NRM Consolidates Parliamentary Leadership Plans.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba have endorsed Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa for another term as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, further intensifying the race for leadership of the 12th Parliament. The development comes as the National Unity Platform (NUP) officially fronts Jinja South East Member of Parliament Hon. Paul Mwiru for the Speakership, signaling a highly contested political battle ahead of the parliamentary leadership vote scheduled for May 25.
The race for the top leadership positions in the 12th Parliament has taken a fresh turn after Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly announced support for Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa to retain the position of Deputy Speaker.
In a statement posted on X, Gen. Muhoozi revealed that the decision followed guidance from President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
According to the statement, all Members of Parliament affiliated to the Patriotic League of Uganda, as well as those aligned to the group, had been directed to support Tayebwa for the Deputy Speakership position.
The endorsement is widely being interpreted as a significant political comeback for Tayebwa within the PLU camp after the group had earlier withdrawn support from both him and Speaker Anita Among during the early stages of the parliamentary leadership contest.
The latest development comes at a time when Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth continues to gain momentum in the race for Speaker of Parliament.
Gen. Muhoozi recently praised Oboth-Oboth as one of the government’s best-performing ministers, a statement that further fuelled speculation about the ruling National Resistance Movement’s preferred leadership lineup for the 12th Parliament.
Political activity within the NRM has intensified ahead of the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker scheduled for May 25 during the first sitting of the new Parliament.
Former Speaker Anita Among, who has held the office since 2022 following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, has in recent weeks faced mounting political and legal pressure.
Her challenges escalated after PLU officially withdrew its earlier backing for her candidacy. The group’s Secretary General, Daudi Kabanda, announced that PLU would instead wait for President Museveni’s guidance before endorsing any candidate for the Speakership race.
The political uncertainty surrounding Among was further compounded by ongoing corruption allegations and investigations into her wealth and assets.
Security agencies recently carried out searches at properties linked to her in Kigo, Ntinda, and Nakasero, while several luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce, were reportedly impounded as part of the investigations.
Sources within the ruling party indicate that the growing pressure and changing power dynamics within the NRM eventually pushed Among to step aside from the Speakership race and support the party-backed candidate.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially endorsed Jinja South East Member of Parliament Hon. Paul Mwiru as its candidate for Speaker of Parliament.
With the NRM commanding the majority in the 529-member House, the ruling party is expected to play a decisive role in determining who takes up the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the 12th Parliament.
