In a moment pregnant with political symbolism, former Speaker and current First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga made a high-profile return to the floor of Parliament on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Her appearance effectively ends a prolonged, years-long absence from active House sittings—a low profile she had intentionally maintained throughout the tenure of her longtime political rival, the outgoing Speaker Anita Annet Among.
A Powerful Front Bench Display
Kadaga, the veteran Kamuli District Woman Representative, took her place directly on the government front bench. Her return created a highly visible line-up of the country’s most powerful female leaders, as she sat alongside:
-
Vice President: Jessica Alupo
-
Prime Minister: Robinah Nabbanja
-
Third Deputy Prime Minister: Rukia Isanga Nakadama
The collective presence of these top NRM stalwarts instantly drew the attention of lawmakers and parliamentary observers, signaling a massive consolidation of the ruling party’s institutional weight on the floor.
Tracing the Kadaga-Among Rivalry
The political friction between Kadaga and Among has been a defining undercurrent in the legislature for half a decade.
The strain dates back to May 2021, when Kadaga lost the NRM flag—and subsequently the Speakership—in a fiercely contested election to her former deputy, the late Jacob Oulanyah. Following Oulanyah’s tragic passing in 2022, Anita Among swiftly assumed the Speakership, consolidating immense legislative power and influence.
Throughout Among’s tenure, Kadaga—despite retaining her cabinet portfolio as Minister for East African Community Affairs—conspicuously stayed away from ordinary plenary sittings, choosing to focus on executive duties and regional integration portfolios.
A New Chapter for the 12th Parliament
Kadaga’s dramatic reappearance coincides with a sweeping transition within the legislative arms of government. Following Anita Among’s recent exit from the Speaker’s race and the subsequent election of brand-new parliamentary leadership for the 12th Parliament, the political landscape within the August House has shifted entirely.
For many Members of Parliament, seeing the veteran legislator back on the bench where she once presided for a decade (2011–2021) represents more than just a regular attendance update. It marks the re-entry of an institutional heavyweight ready to anchor the legislative agenda of the new parliamentary term.
