In a stunning political development that has sent shockwaves across the country, Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of the 11th Parliament, has officially bowed out of the race for the Speakership of the upcoming 12th Parliament.
The announcement, made via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, comes on the heels of intense security crackdowns, including high-profile searches conducted by state security organs at her private residences in Nakasero and Kigo.
The Statement: Stepping Aside for Party Harmony
In a carefully worded statement, Among cited "wide consultations and deep introspection" as the driving forces behind her decision to withdraw from the race, framing the move as a sacrifice for the unity of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
"I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that I will not be offering myself for the Speakership race of the 12th Parliament," Among stated. "I pledge my total support to the candidates who will be endorsed by the President and the Party, and implore all colleague MPs of the 12th Parliament to do the same."
Among expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM party, and the members of the 11th Parliament for the opportunity to serve as both Deputy Speaker and Speaker over the last five years.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Security Investigations
For days, Kampala has been rife with speculation following unprecedented security deployments and rigorous searches at Among’s homes in the upscale neighborhoods of Nakasero and Kigo. While the government had remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of the operations, Among directly addressed the ongoing probe in her concession statement.
Breaking her silence on the matter, she affirmed her willingness to clear her name.
"In the meantime, I pledge to continue cooperating with all ongoing investigations as initiated by the relevant organs of the state to get to the root of all the allegations raised," she added.
What Next for the 12th Parliament?
Among’s sudden exit completely blows the race for the next Speaker wide open. As one of the most powerful and polarizing political figures in recent Ugandan history, her withdrawal leaves the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) with the task of steering the party toward a new consensus candidate.
Despite stepping down from the legislative race, Among emphasized that she is not exiting the political stage entirely, noting that she remains available to serve the country in any capacity the President and the party may assign her.
For more updates on this developing story, keep it locked to Kelele Uganda.
