Politics 23 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
NRM Primaries: Three Eye Speakership, 16 Contest Deputy Speaker Role
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has officially opened nominations for top parliamentary leadership roles, with three MPs vying for Speaker and a crowded field of 16 seeking the Deputy Speaker position. The party's top leadership will now vet all aspirants. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nrm-speakership-race-heats-up-three-mps-battle-for-top-job-as-16-vie-for-deputy-speaker-slot-5470692
The race for leadership in the 12th Parliament has officially begun within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). The party’s Electoral Commission has confirmed that three legislators have formally expressed their interest in becoming the next Speaker.
These contenders are Markson Jacob Oboth Oboth (West Budama Central County), Dr. Asiimwe Florence Akiiki (Masindi District Woman Representative), and Alioni Yorke Odria (Aringa South constituency, Yumbe District). Their candidacies signal a significant internal contest for the prestigious position.
The Deputy Speaker position has attracted a much larger pool of aspirants, with 16 NRM members submitting their expressions of interest. This indicates a highly competitive environment for the second-highest role in Parliament.
Notable drama surrounded Persis Namuganza’s attempt to join the Speakership race. Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, revealed that while Namuganza presented her forms, she did not meet the basic party criteria of being an official NRM flag bearer. Her papers will be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) for a final decision.
All 19 aspirants for both positions will undergo a rigorous vetting process by the NRM’s CEC on Sunday morning. The outcomes of this vetting will then be presented to the broader NRM Parliamentary Caucus later the same day for internal elections. The NRM leadership anticipates concluding its internal selection process by Sunday evening, aiming to have its flag bearers ready for the official parliamentary vote scheduled for Monday.
Dr. Odoi expressed strong confidence in the NRM’s majority in Parliament, asserting that whomever the party nominates will secure the positions due to the bloc voting of the party’s 372 elected members. “We urge them to vote as NRM in a single block and single file, and the Speakership should remain within NRM,” he stated.