Game Over: Gen Muhoozi Endorses Oboth-Oboth For Speaker, Offers ‘Protection’ To Tayebwa!

By Swift Reporter

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicly endorsed Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth for Speaker of Parliament, dramatically escalating the battle for control of the 12th Parliament of Uganda and confirming a stunning political fallout between the powerful Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and incumbent Speaker Anita Annet Among.

In a series of explosive posts on X Friday morning, Muhoozi formally unveiled Oboth-Oboth as his preferred candidate for Speaker, ending days of speculation triggered by his increasingly hostile comments toward 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 posted alongside a photograph of the Defence Minister.

The endorsement marks a complete reversal from PLU’s earlier position.

On March 11, PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda had officially directed all PLU-leaning MPs-elect to support Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa after the pair were endorsed by the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).

But earlier this week, PLU formally withdrew that endorsement in a signed statement, saying support for Among and Tayebwa had been “retracted and withdrawn with immediate effect” following guidance from Muhoozi. The movement instead instructed its MPs to support candidates eventually presented by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Muhoozi then intensified the political pressure through a barrage of social media posts that many inside the ruling National Resistance Movement interpreted as direct attacks on 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!” Muhoozi wrote.

In another post, he appeared to frame the contest as a moral and ideological struggle against corruption and extravagance within Parliament.

“I risked my life for Uganda and I will never allow thieves to take it,” he wrote.

The remarks came amid public outrage over reports that Among had acquired a Rolls Royce reportedly worth about Shs3.4 billion and imported from Britain.

The luxury vehicle controversy has dominated political discussion in recent days after images and reports circulated widely online.

Among reportedly maintained that the vehicle was a gift, but the issue sparked criticism from sections of the public struggling with rising living costs and economic pressure.

Muhoozi appeared to directly reference the controversy in one of his most widely shared posts.

“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 wrote.

He later added: “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.”

The army chief also appeared to signal that the next Speaker would be male, a remark widely interpreted as shutting the door on 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,” Muhoozi posted.

At the same time, Muhoozi moved to reassure Tayebwa, who had initially been endorsed alongside Among but now appears politically separated from her in the unfolding struggle.

“Hon. Tayebwa is a very good man. He is my younger brother. He has no problems. He is protected!” Muhoozi wrote.

The distinction has fueled intense speculation that Tayebwa could either remain Deputy Speaker under a new arrangement or still emerge as a compromise candidate acceptable to both political and security power centres.

Speaking moments after her swearing-in earlier this week, Among describing the outgoing Parliament as remarkable.

“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 observed.

Muhoozi’s intervention represents one of the clearest signs yet that the Speakership race has evolved into a wider internal power contest within the ruling establishment, with the military-linked PLU movement increasingly asserting influence over civilian political processes.

Muhoozi’s political weight inside the system has grown rapidly in recent years. Besides serving as army chief, he leads PLU, a mobilization network that claims support from more than 300 MPs and MPs-elect, especially younger legislators aligned to his “Tuko Pamoja” political messaging.

Oboth-Oboth, meanwhile, is viewed as one of the government’s most trusted insiders. As Defence Minister, he has overseen Uganda’s military engagements and regional security operations while maintaining 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 after MPs complete the ongoing swearing-in exercise, setting the stage for what is now shaping into one of the most dramatic parliamentary leadership contests in recent Ugandan political history.