State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza has formally declared her intention to challenge Speaker Anita Among for the Speakership in the 12th Parliament, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest that signals deepening fault lines within Uganda’s ruling establishment.
Namuganza, the Bukono County Member of Parliament in Namutumba District, confirmed during a news briefing at her office on Friday that she will seek the top parliamentary seat, a move that revives a turbulent political history between the two leaders and injects fresh uncertainty into the leadership race.
Her announcement comes against the backdrop of a strained relationship that has played out publicly over the past two years. In 2023, Parliament voted to censure Namuganza over alleged misconduct, a development widely interpreted by her allies as politically driven. At the time, she insisted that she was being targeted for her outspoken and independent stance within the House. Rather than retreat from national politics, she remained defiant, framing the censure as part of a broader struggle over influence and direction within Parliament.
Namuganza’s resilience was again tested during the 2025/2026 electoral cycle when she lost the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag in the primaries. Refusing to step aside, she contested as an independent candidate and secured victory, reinforcing her reputation as a formidable grassroots mobilizer in the Busoga sub-region. That win strengthened her political leverage and demonstrated her ability to survive outside formal party structures, a factor that could shape the dynamics of the Speakership race.
Widely regarded as politically aligned to former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, whose rivalry with Among reshaped internal alignments during the 11th Parliament, Namuganza’s bid is seen by some observers as an extension of longstanding internal competition within the ruling camp. While Among maintains firm control over parliamentary leadership and enjoys backing from sections of the NRM establishment, the entry of a determined challenger complicates what many had assumed would be a smooth path to retention.
The contest grows even more intriguing with the entry of Justice Minister Norbert Mao, who won the Laroo-Pece Division seat in Gulu City and has also declared his intention to challenge for the Speakership. His candidacy broadens the field and transforms the race into a multi-cornered battle that could test alliances across party lines
