By Aggrey Baba
The political feud between Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among and First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has taken a dramatic turn, as both women eye the influential position of Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) on the Central Executive Committee (CEC) the NRM.
What started as a normal race for internal party leadership has now ballooned into a full-blown war of words, dividing not only voters but also cultural and political leaders across Busoga.
The fallout from the rivalry is already being felt, with political observers alleging that the feud heavily influenced the recently concluded NRM parliamentary primaries in Busoga, where several incumbent MPs lost their party flags.
Many of those MPs were reportedly punished at the ballot for aligning with Among and allegedly turning their backs on Kadaga who’s widely considered the region’s most senior and respected political figure.
The contest has grown so tense that it has spilled beyond the confines of internal party politics into the public domain, with Speaker Among and Kadaga exchanging subtle jabs in the media and public appearances.
Budiope East MP Moses Magogo, who is also the husband of Among, has added fuel to the fire with revelations about the personal history between the two rivals. Speaking during a radio talk show on a local Busoga station, Magogo painted a picture of a once-close relationship between the two, one that has since soured due to what he described as opportunism.
Magogo recounted how, before launching his political career in 2016 after being persuaded by his wife (Among), he first sought the blessing of then-Speaker Kadaga.
“I told my wife that I would only contest in the election if Hon Kadaga gave me the green light,” Magogo said, stressing how much trust and respect they once had for the Kamuli Woman MP.
He further revealed that even when Kadaga fell seriously ill, it was Among who stood by her side, staying overnight in hospital to care for her.
“These are all facts to show you that these two were one,” Magogo emphasized, expressing sadness at how the relationship has since broken down.
The NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) seat they are now both vying for is not merely ceremonial. It places the holder at the heart of decision-making within the party’s top organ. Kadaga, who currently holds the position, wants to retain it, while Among is seeking to oust her in what many see as a broader power play within the MRM.
Observers note that the animosity between the two giants is likely to have long-lasting implications for NRM cohesion in Busoga, a region that has historically been loyal to Museveni.
