During a tense National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), President Yoweri Museveni publicly reprimanded First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga after she accused the party leadership of favoring Speaker Anita Among in the race for NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female). Kadaga had passionately argued that her decades of loyalty and service since 1999 were being overlooked in favor of Among’s relatively shorter contribution of three years.
Kadaga warned that forcing a contest for the position could cause political backlash in the Busoga sub-region, where she holds significant influence, cautioning that the party risks alienating a wider community if the contest proceeds. However, Museveni dismissed Kadaga’s claims, asserting that she does not represent all of Busoga and emphasizing his own historical role in protecting the community’s interests.
Museveni referenced past sacrifices by the NRA and key Busoga leaders wronged by previous regimes to underline the deep roots of loyalty between the Basoga and the ruling party. He urged Kadaga to cease politicizing loyalty and warned against divisiveness within the party. The NEC resolved that the two women will compete in a democratic election at the upcoming party conference.