BREAKING: Muhoozi Endorses Oboth-Oboth for Speaker in Major Political Twist

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicly backed Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth for Speaker of Parliament, throwing fuel on the battle for control of the 12th Parliament and confirming a bitter falling out between the powerful Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and incumbent Speaker Anita Annet Among.

In a string of charged posts on X Friday morning, Muhoozi named Oboth Oboth as his pick for Speaker, putting an end to days of speculation that had been building since his increasingly pointed attacks on the current parliamentary leadership.

“He has been the best Minister in our government for the past 5 years. I want to be the first to endorse him for Speaker of Parliament (2026-2031). God bless Hon. Oboth-Oboth!” Muhoozi wrote alongside a photo of the Defence Minister.

The move is a complete reversal from where PLU stood just weeks ago. On March 11, PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda had directed all PLU-leaning MPs-elect to back Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa after the pair received the blessing of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).

That changed earlier this week when PLU formally pulled its support, saying endorsement of Among and Tayebwa had been “retracted and withdrawn with immediate effect” following guidance from Muhoozi. The movement told its MPs to back whoever President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ultimately presented.

Muhoozi kept the pressure on through a series of social media posts that many inside the ruling National Resistance Movement took as direct shots at Among.

“There is no Speakership battle. Our God Jesus Christ won that battle a long time ago. We already have our new Speaker. Supported by UPDF!” he wrote.

In another post, he cast the contest in moral terms, framing it as a fight against corruption and wasteful spending inside Parliament. “I risked my life for Uganda and I will never allow thieves to take it,” he wrote.

The posts arrived against the backdrop of a growing public uproar over reports that Among had acquired a Rolls Royce reportedly worth around Shs3.4 billion, imported from Britain. Photos and reports of the vehicle spread rapidly online, drawing sharp criticism at a time when many Ugandans are feeling the squeeze of rising costs and economic pressure. Among reportedly described the car as a gift, but the explanation did little to quiet the criticism.

Muhoozi appeared to take direct aim at the controversy. “I have been Mzee’s son for 52 years but I have never sat in a Rolls Royce ever. I don’t think Mzee has sat in one either,” he posted.

He followed that with: “PLU believes in the reduction of ANY monies sent to parliament. We believe in redirecting that money to the millions of Ugandans living in shacks, with no water or power.”

Muhoozi also signalled that his preferred Speaker would be a man, a remark most read as a direct move against Among’s re-election bid. “We have already made our decision on the new Speaker (a man). Men were born to lead. That’s the natural order of things,” he wrote.

At the same time, he went out of his way to reassure Tayebwa, who had been endorsed alongside Among but now appears to be on different political footing. “Hon. Tayebwa is a very good man. He is my younger brother. He has no problems. He is protected!” Muhoozi wrote.

The distinction has sparked intense speculation that Tayebwa could hold onto the Deputy Speaker role under a new arrangement, or even surface as a compromise candidate palatable to both political and security power centres.

Among, speaking shortly after her swearing-in earlier this week, was proud of what the outgoing Parliament had achieved. “This Parliament has been a very good Parliament. We have done a lot, a lot of work. And I can tell you, it is one of the most remarkable Parliaments that we have had in the history of Parliaments,” she said.

Muhoozi’s intervention is one of the clearest signs yet that the Speakership contest has grown into something much larger, a struggle for internal power within the ruling establishment, with the military-linked PLU increasingly throwing its weight into civilian political decisions.

His influence inside the system has grown quickly in recent years. Beyond his role as army chief, Muhoozi leads PLU, a mobilisation network that claims the backing of more than 300 MPs and MPs-elect, particularly younger legislators drawn to his “Tuko Pamoja” political message.

Oboth Oboth is widely regarded as one of the government’s most trusted insiders. As Defence Minister he has overseen Uganda’s military engagements and regional security work while keeping close ties to both State House and security circles.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are expected to be elected on May 25, once MPs complete the ongoing swearing-in process, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic parliamentary leadership contests in Uganda’s recent political history.