Anita Among Defeats Rebecca Kadaga in NRM CEC Vice Chair Race
Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has emerged victorious in the heated contest for the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female), delivering a heavy defeat to her predecessor and long-time political heavyweight, Rebecca Kadaga.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, declared the results late Tuesday night at 11:14 pm, announcing that Among had secured 11,680 votes against Kadaga’s 902, out of the 12,582 delegates who turned up to vote through the lining-up method.
The scale of the victory not only cements Among’s place in the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) but also signals the waning influence of Kadaga, who for decades was regarded as one of President Yoweri Museveni’s most trusted female lieutenants.
Scenes at Kololo
The election unfolded under the watchful eye of President Museveni himself, who observed the exercise at Kololo Independence Grounds from start to finish. Delegates, chanting and sweating under the blazing sun, lined up behind their preferred candidates in a dramatic public show of loyalty that stretched for hours.
The CEC elections carry significant weight in the NRM, shaping the inner circle of decision-making in a party that has been in power for nearly four decades.
Kadaga’s Defiant Stand
Even before the final tally was announced, Kadaga took to the social platform X to voice grievances over what she described as a compromised process.
“I deeply thank everyone who, despite massive voter bribery and intimidation, stood by me. The gross abuse of office witnessed throughout this election is truly unacceptable,” she posted.
In a further sign of tension, she warned:
“We cherish our party, but if this oppression persists, we shall be left with no choice but to walk away.”
Among’s Political Climb
For Among, the landslide marks yet another milestone in her rapid political ascent. Her emphatic win against Kadaga is being read by analysts as both a consolidation of her growing influence and a sharp reshaping of the NRM’s internal balance of power.
