By Aggrey Baba
Uganda’s First Son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), is no longer being viewed only as a pressure group in the country’s political space.
Its recent involvement in the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament has triggered debate that it is steadily emerging as a new centre of political influence within the National Resistance Movement (NRM), reshaping how internal decisions are made and interpreted.
The Speaker race, which had largely been understood as a contest between outgoing Speaker Anita Annet Among and former Justice Minister Norbert Mao, has since changed shape after Gen. Muhoozi and the PLU stepped in with clear political positions.
At first, PLU had declared support for both Among and Deputy Speaker
Thomas Tayebwa. However, through its Secretary General David Kabanda, who also serves as Kasambya County MP (NRM), the movement later publicly withdrew that support.
After that shift, Gen. Muhoozi, the PLU chairperson, announced on social media (particularly X) that he was backing Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth for Speaker. That declaration altered the direction of the race, triggering fresh political calculations within the ruling party.
A moment at Kololo during President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony further intensified the debate. A picture showing then Speaker Anita Among appearing to lean in and speak closely with Gen. Muhoozi went viral online, coming shortly after PLU had withdrawn its support for her bid.
The image sparked wide discussion in political circles, with some observers saying it reflected the growing influence of PLU in the current political moment.
Although the Speaker ranks higher in official protocol than the CDF, the public reaction to the image suggested a shifting political reality, where endorsement from PLU is increasingly seen as an important political advantage for many actors within the NRM.
Inside PLU, Secretary General David Kabanda has also become more visible and powerful. He has taken a firm tone in defending the movement’s positions and frequently attacking whoever attempts to criticise his boss (Gen. Muhoozi) and PLU decisions. His growing confidence and public posture have contributed to the perception of PLU as a more politically active formation than before.
Reports from political circles also indicate that many NRM MPs are now more cautious in how they relate to PLU positions, with some said to be closely watching its signals, especially on major decisions such as the Speakership race.
At the same time, PLU’s entry into the contest has affected other contenders. The Laroo-Pece MP Norbert Mao, who had earlier positioned himself as the strongest challenger to Anita Among, has become less visible in recent discussions. His earlier momentum has slowed as attention shifts toward Budama West’s Jacobo Oboth-Oboth and a yet to be known female candidate for the the Deputy Speaker slot.
All this has fuelled growing talk that PLU is no longer simply a mobilization group. Instead, it is increasingly being viewed by some observers as part of the internal power structure shaping decisions within the NRM.
While the final decision on the Speakership will be made by the NRM caucus next week and ultimately by Parliament, the current developments point to a clear shift in how political influence is exercised within the ruling NRM, at the moment.
