ENTEBBE, Uganda — By the time President Yoweri Museveni convened a closed-door meeting with senior religious leaders and political figures at State House Entebbe on Thursday, May 14, 2026, tensions within Uganda’s ruling establishment had already begun to surface.
What started as a discreet discussion on corruption in Parliament would, within days, escalate into a sweeping political and security operation, culminating in raids on properties linked to former Speaker Anita Annet Among, the seizure of luxury assets (Rolls-Royce and a luxurious Range Rover), and her withdrawal from the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
According to multiple sources familiar with the meeting, the President spoke with unusual directness, warning of rising public anger over perceived excess among senior officials.
Those present included religious leaders such as Anthony Zziwa, Archbishop Moses Odongo, and former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
Sources said Museveni expressed concern that displays of wealth by political elites were creating unease not only among civilians but also within sections of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
At the centre of the discussion was outgoing Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among.
According to sources, Museveni questioned the origins of Among’s wealth, citing her luxury lifestyle, including high-end vehicles, designer clothing and multiple properties across Kampala and eastern Uganda.
“Our bishops are here. Tell them where you get the money from,” Museveni reportedly told her during the meeting.
Sources said the room fell silent as the exchange unfolded.
The President is also said to have raised concerns about alleged financial practices within government systems, including claims of inflated budgets and misuse of public funds involving politically connected actors.
Ms Among reportedly responded by attributing her wealth to private sources.
“I get money from my rich friends,” she is quoted as saying.
“Which friends?,” Museveni asked.
“They are many, Your Excellency, including Ham,” she allegedly replied, in reference to businessman Hamis Kiggundu.
“But do these rich people give you all this money?,” Museveni reportedly pressed. “Tell them where you get the money from.”
Sources say Museveni advised Among to step aside from the Speakership race to ease mounting pressure on Parliament and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Initially framed as a political solution, the proposal was intended to contain the fallout.
However, insiders claim that Among did not immediately signal willingness to withdraw. Instead, she was said to have continued preparations for a possible contest, including plans to run independently.
That response is reported to have triggered a shift in approach.
A senior aide said the President subsequently directed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to coordinate a broader security-led investigation.
In the days that followed, security activity intensified around properties linked to Among.
Investigators carried out searches at her residence in Nakasero before extending operations to a high-security property in Kigo, described by sources as a fortified structure with reinforced construction and advanced security features.
Authorities reportedly seized electronic devices, documents and financial records during the operations.
Luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce and a Range Rover, were later removed under armed escort and taken to forensic facilities in Naguru for examination.
The materials are expected to form part of evidence in the ongoing investigation, pending further legal review.
By Monday, the cumulative pressure appeared to reach a tipping point.
Among announced her withdrawal from the Speakership race.
“I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that I will not be offering myself for the Speakership race of the 12th Parliament,” she said.
She also pledged cooperation with investigators.
Within Uganda’s political circles, the developments are being interpreted as more than an individual political setback.
Also Read: Investigators seize Anita Among’s phone as corruption probe deepens
For some analysts, the sequence of events points to a broader recalibration within the state, particularly around issues of corruption, public perception and internal stability.
The episode has also highlighted concerns within the leadership about the potential political consequences of widening inequality and perceptions of elite excess.
According to Michael Wandati, the developments reflect deeper structural tensions.
“This is no longer just a political contest, it is a signal of institutional pressure responding to public sentiment,” he notes. “When governance, perception and security interests intersect, the outcome is rarely contained to one individual.”
As investigations continue, attention is expected to focus on the evidence gathered and the potential legal trajectory of the case.
At the same time, the political landscape ahead of Uganda’s 12th Parliament has been significantly reshaped.
What began as a closed-door meeting has evolved into a defining moment, raising broader questions about accountability, power and the limits of political influence within Uganda’s governing system.
