In a decisive political showdown that has reshaped the leadership structure of Uganda’s ruling party, Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has been elected as the Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), soundly defeating former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga with a remarkable 92.8 percent of the vote. President Yoweri Museveni has officially congratulated Among on her victory, which marks a significant shift in the party’s internal power dynamics ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Election Results and Official Declaration
According to official results declared on August 21, 2025, by Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Among polled 11,680 votes against Kadaga’s 902 votes (7.2 percent) out of 12,582 total votes cast during the party’s National Delegates’ Conference at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala .
The landslide victory demonstrates Among’s growing influence within the ruling party and her ability to mobilize support across different regions of Uganda. Preliminary results from earlier in the week had already indicated a strong lead for Among, particularly in the West Nile region where she secured clean sweeps across multiple districts without conceding a single vote to her opponent in several areas .t
President Museveni’s Congratulations and Endorsement
President Museveni, who was himself endorsed unopposed as NRM National Chairman and presidential flagbearer for the 2026 elections during the same conference, extended his congratulations to Among and other newly elected leaders . The President’s endorsement came during the first meeting of the fifth NRM National Conference attended by more than 23,000 delegates from across the country.
In his address to delegates, Museveni offered advice to the newly elected leaders: “Be the leaders who solve the solvable problems, and the people will love you. But don’t carry the population on your head. Lead them by using government resources, not your own money. This is where corruption comes about, by trying to fund everything, yet you don’t even have enough money” .
Context of the Highly Contested Race
The election campaign between Among and Kadaga had exposed deep divisions within the NRM party. Among had presented herself as a mobilizer and unifier for the party’s future, while Kadaga had accused some factions of vote buying and resource manipulation during the campaign .
Among had made several promises during her campaign, including a proposal that members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) – the highest decision-making organ of the NRM party – be paid allowances. “I will also request as a CEC member that we have allowances,” Among had told delegates ahead of voting at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds .
In her campaign speech, Among had emphasized: “I do not want to be useless in the party; I want to add value to the party. And by adding value to the party, I am seeking to be the second national vice chairperson of NRM. Today is the day that the Lord has made for NRM; the Lord has brought a mobilizer, and the Lord has brought a unifier” .
Table: Other Key NRM Election Results
Position Winner Notable Details
National Chairperson Yoweri Museveni Endorsed unopposed
First National Vice Chairperson Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo Re-elected unopposed
Entrepreneurs League Suspended Due to bribery allegations
Veterans League Rtd Lt Moses Mushabe Defeated Security Minister Jim Muhwezi
Women’s League Kobusingye Adrine Defeated multiple candidates
Broader Party Elections and Implications
The elections for NRM’s Central Executive Committee members witnessed a significant shake-up in leadership, with many incumbents being ousted by new faces. The elections, which ran for two days at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, were extended due to several hitches and chaos as party officials worked to conclude the voting process for all leagues .
In a dramatic development, President Museveni suspended elections for the NRM Entrepreneurs League following allegations of bribery and irregularities in the contest between businessmen Hassan Basajjabalaba and Ceasar Mulenga . This move highlighted the volatility of the party’s internal contests and the President’s concerns about electoral integrity within his own party.
The election of Among represents a changing of the guard within the NRM leadership structure and signals the rising influence of newer political figures within the party establishment. Her decisive victory over Kadaga, a veteran NRM politician with decades of service, indicates a potential shift in the party’s internal dynamics as it prepares for the 2026 general elections.
As Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Among now occupies one of the most powerful female positions within the NRM structure and will play a crucial role in mobilizing support for the party’s agenda, particularly among women constituents across Uganda .
The conference and elections mark a pivotal moment in Uganda’s political calendar, with delegates choosing the leaders who will steer the party through the next five years, including the crucial 2026 general elections where President Museveni will seek to extend his four-decade rule .
