A growing wave of support is sweeping through Parliament as more than 300 Members of Parliament both newly elected and returning signal their backing for the re-election of Speaker Anita Annet Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa ahead of the forthcoming Speakership vote.
Across party lines, legislators say the priority for the next parliamentary session is continuity, cohesion and experienced stewardship. Many argue that the current leadership has demonstrated the capacity to manage a diverse and often polarized House, balancing robust debate with institutional order.
Several MPs observed that Parliament is entering what they describe as a critical legislative phase one that demands steady hands rather than abrupt transition.
“This is not the time to gamble with the Speakership. We need someone who has already shown they can unite members and guide the House effectively,” one legislator noted during informal consultations.
Cross-Party Backing
Support for Speaker Among is said to be both public and private, with endorsements cutting across political affiliations. Even voices within the opposition have emphasized the importance of institutional stability over partisan contest.
An opposition MP affiliated with the National Unity Platform remarked that the role of Speaker transcends procedural technicalities.
“The Speakership is about bringing Members together and steering policy in the national interest. Unity in the House is more important than anything else,” the MP said.
The endorsement momentum follows the position taken by the National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee (CEC), which resolved to maintain the status quo in Parliament’s top leadership.
Institutional Stability and Convention
Advocates of continuity point to what they describe as an emerging parliamentary convention in which Speakers serve two terms. They argue that such continuity strengthens institutional memory, improves committee coordination and sustains legislative momentum.
President Yoweri Museveni has recently commended Speaker Among’s leadership style, particularly her countrywide consultations and engagement with grassroots communities — a move supporters interpret as an endorsement of her stewardship.
Under Article 82 of the Constitution of Uganda, the Speaker is elected by Members of Parliament from among their number. A candidate must secure a simple majority of votes cast by MPs present and voting to be declared winner.
Looking Ahead to May
With the Speakership election expected in May, proponents of retaining the current leadership warn that introducing a new presiding officer at this stage could disrupt ongoing legislative processes, committee workflows and cross-party negotiations.
Supporters maintain that the “Among Effect” as some MPs have dubbed the growing groundswell reflects confidence in tested leadership during a politically sensitive period.
As the House prepares for the vote, the numbers appear to favor continuity. Whether that support translates into a decisive ballot outcome will ultimately be determined on the floor of Parliament, where unity, strategy and political arithmetic converge.
