Kampala – Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has overwhelmingly defeated her predecessor, Rebecca Kadaga, in the race for Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC), cementing her status as one of the party’s most powerful figures.
Official results announced late Tuesday night at Kololo Independence Grounds by NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi showed Among polling 11,680 votes against Kadaga’s 902, out of 12,582 delegates. The landslide margin marked one of the most humiliating defeats for Kadaga, a political heavyweight who has been at the heart of NRM politics for more than three decades.
The contest, billed as a clash of influence and legacy, revealed the shifting balance of power within the party. While Kadaga campaigned on her seniority, loyalty, and regional representation, delegates decisively chose Among, who has rapidly consolidated her authority since becoming Speaker in 2021.
Among highlighted her nationwide mobilization skills and her role in recruiting opposition legislators into the ruling party, presenting herself as a fresh force to re-energize NRM structures ahead of the 2026 elections. Kadaga, meanwhile, warned that sidelining her risked alienating Busoga sub-region, but her appeal failed to sway delegates.
President Yoweri Museveni, who chaired the conference, had earlier urged the contenders to avoid a divisive contest by stepping aside, but both pressed ahead, leading to the emphatic verdict in Among’s favour.
The victory secures Among a powerful seat on CEC alongside her position as Speaker, strengthening her influence within both Parliament and the NRM hierarchy.
For Kadaga, the crushing defeat underscores a steep decline in her political fortunes and casts uncertainty on her future role in both the party and national politics.
Party insiders say the result reflects delegates’ appetite for fresh leadership and generational change as the NRM gears up for a high-stakes contest in 2026.
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