She delivered a scorching speech accusing the party leadership of ignoring loyalty and long-term service in favor of Speaker Anita Among, who joined the party just yesterday (three years ago).
The race between the 1st Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga and the Speaker of Parliament Annet Anitah Among has intensified following Kadaga’s bitter attacks, to the party National Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni accusing him of using and dumping her for the new entrants in NRM.
Without any hesitation, Kadaga pointed fingers at President Museveni when she accused him of being the force behind Anita Among, a person who joined NRM three years ago at her own expense despite her loyalty and support for NRM since its inception.
The public clash between President Museveni and Kadaga happened during the CEC meeting held at State House Entebbe on Saturday August 23, 2025. Kadaga is fighting tooth and nail to ensure that she retains NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female), something which of late seems to be so hard.
She delivered a scorching speech accusing the party leadership of ignoring loyalty and long-term service in favor of Speaker Anita Among, who joined the party just yesterday (three years ago).
“I have been a member of this party since inception. I started as an LC1 chairperson in 1999. I have never joined any other party. My loyalty is unquestionable,” Kadaga told delegates, drawing loud applause.
“When you fill the expression of interest form, you are asked what you have done for NRM in the last ten years. Those guidelines have not been changed. The person aspiring to this office has only worked for three years. Whether she was doing work elsewhere is her business, but for NRM, it is only three years. We cannot gerrymander the rules,” she charged.
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Kadaga reminded the NEC of her decades of service and warned of deep divisions if the matter was mishandled:
“I have supported all our campaigns, ensured budgets passed, marketed Uganda globally, and served this party faithfully. But I was publicly humiliated when I was removed as Speaker, and I took it in good stride. How much more can you push an individual?”
“Mr. Chairman, I have told you before that if this goes to a contest, it will cause serious problems in my community. You may think you are fighting me, but you are fighting a bigger community. That’s not right for the politics of Uganda.”
In a rare public rebuke, President Museveni cut in sharply, warning Kadaga against using Busoga’s identity to defend her seat.
“Rebecca, you don’t own Busoga. You were not there when I was working with the previous kings, so you should sit down,” Museveni said firmly, sparking murmurs in the room.
He defended the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) process, stressing that candidates had been persuaded to step down voluntarily, not coerced.
“There were young people who had expressed interest, and we reasoned with them. Some pulled out on their own. The role of CEC is to study and advise, not to force anyone. Unless there is a strong legal reason, CEC cannot disqualify any candidate,” Museveni explained, echoing the Attorney General’s view.
The President revealed that he had proposed a “win-win” compromise between Kadaga and Among:
“My way is always win-win; I don’t like win-lose. I proposed that the two of you agree — one steps down, and I would nominate the other to CEC. But since no one wants to be guided, we leave it to the delegates to decide.”
Kadaga Questions Among’s Bid
Kadaga also questioned why Speaker Anita Among, already an ex-officio CEC member, was contesting the same seat:
“If she’s already sitting here ex-officio, why is she running again? How can one person sit in two positions? This sends a wrong signal about fairness in our party,” Kadaga argued.
She warned that removing senior leaders for newcomers would damage the NRM’s cohesion:
“If we allow someone to come today and immediately become head of the party, what message are we sending? Are loyalty and commitment no longer valued in NRM?”
With neither side backing down, Museveni closed the debate by throwing the matter to the delegates:
“Since no one is willing to be guided, let the people decide. We will go to elections at the delegates’ conference and settle this,” Museveni declared.
The decision sets up a high-stakes showdown between Kadaga and Among at next week’s NRM National Delegates’ Conference, exposing widening rifts within the ruling party as it prepares for the 2026 elections.
Among fires back at Kadaga!
When granted the opportunity to address the delegates, Among said that she expressed interest for the position of Vice chairperson NRM (Female) and reaffirmed her candidature.
“The notion of saying that Anitah is new, yes, I am new but I come with new ideas and vibrancy. The mobilization I am doing for this party, I have over 10 MPs that I have brought from opposition to NRM,” she said.
She also challenged Kadaga for saying that there are positions in NRM that are for people who have been in party for long, saying its high time NRM moved with the generation; “I am a generational leader. I am here to mobilize for the party and I am a very disciplined cadre of NRM.”
Among challenged Kadaga for always showing a naughty character before the party, giving a scenario when CEC approved the Late Jacob Oulanya to stand as the speaker, ignoring the latter that she showed the highest means of indiscipline when she decided to stand unopposed.
“Imagine, such characters from the people who are telling us that they are senior, old, committed and loyal to NRM! Is that love for the party?” she inquired, adding;
“I have been trusted and given the most top position of Speaker of Parliament, that is an arm of government, a speaker of parliament who respects the party, who values NRM, I love my president, I love my party, I can never bring a motion of displeasure for my president, never. And I want to request the chairman of the party that this matter must be resolved here today. Being new in NRM is not a crime!”