ENTEBBE, Uganda — President Museveni publicly clashed with First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga on Saturday during a fiery National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at State House Entebbe, declaring that he—and not Kadaga—was the one who liberated Busoga.
The confrontation ignited after Kadaga made an emotional plea, warning that forcing her out of the race for NRM First National Vice Chairperson (Female) would destabilize her home region.
“Mr. Chairman, I have told you before that if this matter goes to a contest, it will cause serious problems in my community,” Kadaga warned delegates. “You may think you are fighting me, but you are fighting a bigger community. In this party, it would seem that loyalty is no longer important. I have served this party since its inception, marketed Uganda globally, and supported all our campaigns. How much more can you push an individual?”
Kadaga also questioned why Speaker Anita Among, who is already an ex-officio member of CEC, was vying for the same seat.
“How can one person sit in two positions? If she’s already here ex-officio, why is she contesting again? That sends the wrong signal,” she charged, suggesting that her long service entitled her to respect and consideration within the party.
Museveni fires back
Museveni responded sharply, dismissing Kadaga’s warning that her defeat would alienate Busoga and accusing her of misleading the NEC about her influence.
“It is not correct for you to involve my people, the Basoga, and give the impression that if it’s not you, they are not there,” Museveni said sternly. “I am the one who fought for the Basoga, not anybody else. I am the one who revenged for the people killed by Idi Amin by defeating him. We revenged for William Nadiope by defeating the UPC which put him in prison. Who else did anything for the Basoga?”
He went on to recall the painful history of Busoga under the Amin and UPC regimes, citing the deaths of prominent leaders like former UPC Minister Shaban Nkutu.
“Who revenged for Nkutu, who was killed? Who avenged the deaths of so many others? It was the NRA, the freedom fighters. We brought peace for the whole of Uganda, including Busoga.” While acknowledging Kadaga’s long service, Museveni accused her of “polluting her position with wrong ideas” by suggesting that her incumbency gives her an automatic entitlement.
“It is true that from 1989, when Rebecca joined the Constituent Assembly and National Resistance Council, she has been with NRM. That is true. But making it look like Busoga belongs to one individual is wrong,” Museveni warned.
The President also dismissed Kadaga’s insinuation that Speaker Anita Among’s candidacy was orchestrated by him.
“I do not have the power to veto anyone. If I tried, I would cause a lot of problems. You saw me the other day begging my own young brother Nzaire to step down for Baryomunsi, but I didn’t force him,” said Museveni. “Now, you are saying I must be the one who sent Anita Among. That’s not true. People have a right to stand, and it is the delegates who decide,” Museveni said.
Earlier in the meeting, Speaker Anita Among had defended her candidacy, arguing that seniority should not block new leadership within the NRM.
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“I expressed my interest, and I was nominated. I am still in the race,” Among said. “I want to say I am not a CEC member — I am here as a visitor of the President. Yes, I am new, but I come with new ideas. The mobilisation I have done for this party — I have brought over ten Members of Parliament from the opposition to NRM. The party is not only for people who have been here for long. We must move with the new generation.”
Among also took a subtle jab at Kadaga, recalling the fallout during the 2021 speakership race. “When Jacob Oulanyah stood and CEC approved him for Speaker, those who had been in the party long walked out and stood as independents. But I stayed and served. Being new is not a crime.”
With neither side backing down, Museveni concluded the confrontation by ruling that the matter would be resolved at the NRM National Delegates’ Conference next week.
“Since no one wants to be guided, let the delegates decide,” Museveni declared, bringing the heated session to a close.
The August 27 conference now sets the stage for a high-stakes political showdown between Kadaga and Among—a battle that has exposed deep rifts within the NRM, put the Busoga power base under scrutiny, and sharpened debates over loyalty versus generational renewal ahead of the 2026 general elections.
