Unbelievable!! See Why Prime Minister Nabbanja & All Museveni’s Ministers ‘Hate’ Speaker Among

In a move that startled the nation, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among recently suspended a parliamentary session due to the absence of all 82 ministers.While 20 ministers graced the assembly the next day, it didn’t prevent Among from reading them the riot act.

Unapologetically, she pointed out that personal grievances against the presiding officer shouldn’t obstruct national duty.

“You may not like the presiding officer, but you’re here to work for your people. Those saying they didn’t attend because they dislike me should remember their primary responsibility is to the nation,” She Emphasized.

Among also warned that ministerial attendance would be a critical factor in future reshuffles by the president.

“I want the chief executive of the country to know, and this goes to the Appointments Committee, the first thing we’ll check is how many times you attended parliament,” She Declared, Met With Applause From attending MPs.

But the underlying question remains—why are ministers dodging their parliamentary duties?

Interviews with several MPs, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reveal a problem rooted not just in the parliament but also within the executive branch. A couple of State House officials agree, suggesting that the nature of the current ministers makes effective duty execution a challenge.This situation brings to light a reportedly dysfunctional cabinet, led by a prime minister who acknowledges her limitations in managing ministers more educated or senior than her.

A State House source paints a bleak picture of the current executive leadership.

“You have Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who is clearly out of her depth. Then there’s the first deputy prime minister, Rebecca Kadaga, who seems to be disengaged as she approaches retirement. The second deputy prime minister and deputy leader of government business, Moses Ali, has been unwell recently. The third deputy prime minister, Rukia Nakadama, is also not performing at her best. Complicating matters further, Nabbanja can only delegate responsibilities to Nakadama. The other two deputy prime ministers are her seniors, and Kadaga in particular has no regard for Nabbanja,” The Source Told The Observer.

To exacerbate tensions, Among and Prime Minister Nabbanja are reportedly at loggerheads, an animosity that has reached President Yoweri Museveni. Each accuses the other of undermining their work. Nabbanja alleges that Among allows opposition MPs too much latitude, while Among counters that she won’t be undermined by ministers, emphasizing her loyalty to President Museveni over party affiliations.

In fact, the feud between the two leaders has escalated to such an extent that it has come to the attention of President Museveni, with both sides accusing each other of failing in their respective roles. Prime Minister Nabbanja reportedly told Museveni that Speaker Among is undermining the work of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in parliament.

She accused Among of allowing opposition MPs the latitude to openly criticize not only the party but also its chairman. Nabbanja further claimed that Among is disrespectful towards ministers, often berating them and failing to shield them from unfair attacks by MPs.

On the other hand, Speaker Among told Museveni that she is equally frustrated with how ministers are attempting to undermine her authority. She clarified that she identifies more as a “Musevenist” rather than an NRM member.

Consequently, she asserted that Nabbanja and others within the NRM shouldn’t expect her to carry out their responsibilities just because they belong to the same political party.In an interview with this newspaper, Asuman Basalirwa, a close confidant of Speaker Among, asserted that ministers do not need to have personal affinities for the speaker or her deputy to fulfill their parliamentary duties.

With rumors of a ministerial reshuffle in the air for the past two months, the nation is anxious to see how President Museveni will recalibrate his team. Yet as the days go by, what is abundantly clear is that the current configuration is unsustainable. It has led to not just a parliament that can’t convene properly but a nation that watches as its leaders focus more on personal grievances than on the collective good.It’s a situation that calls for immediate redress. Otherwise, Uganda risks perpetuating a cycle where the very institutions designed to serve the people are instead doing a disservice to democracy itself.

Apart from issues within the executive branch, the legislative arm of the government also faces challenges, according to MPs we have interviewed. These MPs, who have experience with past presiding officers prior to Among and Tayebwa, argue that besides the personal animosity between the speaker and some ministers, the current presiding officers lack the authority that their predecessors commanded.

Source: Observer