BY Okidi Patrick
Kampala , Uganda:
The political ground beneath Anita Annet Among (AAA) is rapidly shifting after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) withdrew its endorsement of her bid to retain the Speakership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, exposing what insiders now describe as a growing crisis of confidence around one of the country’s most powerful political figures.
In a stunning reversal announced on Tuesday, May 12, PLU formally rescinded its March endorsement of AAA and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, effectively throwing the race wide open and leaving the Speaker battling to contain a political storm that has steadily gathered momentum in recent weeks with Norbert Mao becoming a political Hot cake countrywide.
The decision, communicated in a statement signed by PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda, cited fresh guidance from PLU chairman and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, signaling a major recalibration within the increasingly influential political movement.
The move represents more than just a withdrawal of support, it sends a strong message that Among’s once-commanding grip on the Speakership race may be slipping.
For long AAA camp projected confidence after the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee recommended continuity in parliamentary leadership.
However, cracks in that confidence became visible after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni unexpectedly declined to close the matter during the ruling party retreat in Kyankwanzi, instead insisting the issue would be handled “at the right time”, a remark many interpreted as a signal that no candidate should consider the race settled.
Since then, pressure around Among’s candidacy has intensified.
At the centre of the controversy is public backlash surrounding reports that Among acquired a luxury Rolls-Royce reportedly worth over 3 billions of shillings, a development that triggered widespread criticism at a time many Ugandans continue to struggle with economic hardship and rising costs of living.
Although Among reportedly maintained the vehicle was a gift, the optics have proven politically damaging.
Critics argue the episode reinforced public perceptions of excess and disconnect among political elites, while reviving long-standing allegations surrounding extravagance and accountability in Parliament.
Without naming Among directly, Muhoozi appeared to amplify public frustrations through a series of pointed posts on X.
“I have been Mzee’s son for 52 years but I have never sat in a Rolls Royce ever. I don’t think Mzee has sat in one either,” he posted, a statement widely interpreted as a veiled rebuke of the Speaker’s lifestyle.
The comments have intensified speculation that influential power centres may no longer view Among as politically untouchable.
Political analysts say the greatest threat to Among is not necessarily the emergence of a single rival, but the erosion of elite consensus that previously insulated her from internal rebellion.
As the swearing-in of the 12th Parliament approaches, what once looked like Anita Among’s comfortable path to re-election is increasingly becoming a high-stakes fight for political survival.
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