Some MPs were heard objecting to the proposal on regional balance grounds, noting that both Wanyoto and Oboth-Oboth come from Eastern Uganda.
The race for leadership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament continues to take new twists, with newly sworn-in Mbale City Woman Representative Lydia Wanyoto appearing to shift her ambitions from Speaker to Deputy Speaker.
Wanyoto, who had previously expressed interest in the speakership race, publicly appealed for support to become Deputy Speaker while attending a thanksgiving ceremony for Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth in Kyungu Cell, Mukono Municipality on Saturday.
The event, which attracted a large number of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislators and political figures, has increasingly been viewed as a show of support for Oboth-Oboth’s emerging bid for Speaker of Parliament.
Speaking emotionally while kneeling before the gathering, Wanyoto asked Members of Parliament to consider her as Oboth-Oboth’s deputy in the next Parliament.
“All of you, please think about me, Wanyoto, as the woman to work with Right Honourable Oboth-Oboth so that both of us can serve together,” she said, drawing mixed reactions from legislators present.
Some MPs were heard objecting to the proposal on regional balance grounds, noting that both Wanyoto and Oboth-Oboth come from Eastern Uganda.
Wanyoto’s apparent change of strategy comes amid growing indications that the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) chairman and Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has thrown his weight behind Oboth-Oboth for the speakership.
Political insiders say Muhoozi’s endorsement, reportedly backed by sections of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) and President Yoweri Museveni, has significantly reshaped calculations within the ruling party, forcing several potential contenders to reconsider their options.
Attention is now increasingly turning to the Deputy Speaker position, which is expected to attract intense competition in the coming days.
In one of his recent posts on X, Gen. Muhoozi suggested that the Deputy Speaker position could this time go to a woman, further fueling speculation around possible female contenders.
Besides Wanyoto, another contender for the Deputy Speaker position, Bukoto East MP Sarah Babirye Kityo, has also publicly declared her interest in the race.
In a statement posted on X, Kityo said she was ready to serve with “humility and strong commitment to national service” if entrusted with the role.
“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 for 2026–2031,” Kityo wrote.
She added that she looked forward to working with fellow leaders under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership to “strengthen our democracy, advance unity, and serve all Ugandans with integrity and purpose.”
The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament is scheduled for May 25, setting the stage for what is shaping into one of the most closely watched internal contests within the ruling NRM in recent years.
