Anita Among Misses 12th Parliament Inaugural Sitting Amidst Investigations

The 12th Parliament of Uganda commenced its business with the election of new leadership, but former Speaker Anita Among was conspicuously absent from the inaugural sitting at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Her name was called twice during the clerk’s roll call, underscoring her absence from the crucial session that saw Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth elected as the new Speaker.

Among, who also holds a senior position within the ruling NRM party, has recently missed several key party engagements. The NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, Tanga Odoi, stated that Among had informed party leadership of her illness and submitted her apologies, a reason also cited for her absence from an NRM caucus meeting that endorsed Oboth-Oboth as the party’s speaker candidate.

Her absence comes at a time of significant intensity surrounding investigations connected to her previous tenure as Speaker. While she was unopposed in her bid for the Bukedea District Woman MP seat and has taken her oaths, her public appearances have become infrequent following raids on some of her properties and the seizure of vehicles as part of ongoing security operations.

Sources close to Among, including Alice Alaso of the ANT, indicate that the former Speaker is currently at a Kampala residence under substantial security presence, reportedly comprising both police and military personnel. Alaso noted that Among has not been sleeping well recently. An anonymous MP from the Teso sub-region corroborated the heavy security detail, describing guards at the property’s entrance and soldiers stationed within.

Under parliamentary rules, an MP can only lose their seat after missing 15 consecutive sittings without official permission. This provision allows for absences due to legitimate reasons such as illness. The 12th Parliament, elected in January 2026, began its sessions with the swearing-in of its 529 members, with leadership elections being the primary focus.

https://observer.ug/news/among-no-show-as-12th-parliament-commences