Flashback: When ‘Powerful’ Among Warned, “No One Can Intimidate Me, I’ll Be D/Speaker For 10yrs, Then Speaker 10yrs”

By Swift Reporter

As former Speaker Anita Annet Among faces mounting political and legal pressure, an old statement in which she boldly predicted two decades at the helm of Parliament has resurfaced, reigniting debate over one of Uganda’s most dramatic political rises.

Years before she ascended to the Speakership, Among confidently told legislators that no one could intimidate her and that she intended to serve for 10 years as Deputy Speaker before spending another 10 years as Speaker.

“No one can intimidate me,” she declared during a parliamentary session, adding that she remained committed to serving as Deputy Speaker for the next decade.

The remarks were made while Parliament debated a motion paying tribute to Florence Alice Lubega, Uganda’s first female legislator, who died in October 2021 at the age of 103.

Among’s statement came amid growing discussion on social media about her financial dealings shortly after she had been elected Deputy Speaker.

Rather than retreat, she used the moment to send a strong message to both supporters and critics, urging women leaders never to allow themselves to be intimidated or blackmailed.

Her words resonated widely at the time and were seen as a declaration of resilience from a politician determined to chart a long-term path to the highest offices in Parliament.

Among’s political forecast appeared strikingly accurate.

After serving as Deputy Speaker, she was elected Speaker of Parliament in 2022 following the death of Jacob Oulanyah.

Her elevation marked one of the most rapid and significant political ascents in recent Ugandan history, transforming her into one of the most influential figures in the country.

The resurfacing of the remarks comes at a time when Among is confronting intense scrutiny over allegations related to unexplained wealth and possible breaches of the Leadership Code.

Her Speakership has also become the subject of fierce political contestation as new alliances emerge ahead of the formation of the 12th Parliament.

To supporters, the statement reflects the confidence and determination that propelled her to national prominence.

To critics, it serves as a reminder of the extraordinary ambitions that defined her political journey.

Whether viewed as a bold prophecy or a declaration of unshakable self-belief, Anita Among’s assertion that she would spend 10 years as Deputy Speaker and another 10 years as Speaker remains one of the most memorable political statements of her career although not achieved as she hoped.

Today, as events continue to unfold around her, those words have taken on renewed significance, offering a striking flashback to the confidence with which she once envisioned her future at the summit of Uganda’s legislative power.