We Don’t Want It!! Among & Kadaga Allegedly Reject Deal Offered By Museveni For One Of Them To Bow Out Of The CEC Race, Both Enemies Vow To Fight Till The End

During Thursday’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) session, President Yoweri Museveni, in his role as NRM National Chairman, persuaded several contestants, including his brother Nzeire, to withdraw from the race. Some little-known aspirants revealed that unemployment was their main motivation for joining the contest and were promised Resident District Commissioner (RDC) positions in exchange for stepping down.

Each candidate was given three minutes to present themselves and respond to questions where necessary. The spotlight, however, was on the hotly contested position of 2nd National Vice Chairperson, where Speaker Anita Among faces off against her predecessor, Rebecca Kadaga. Museveni proposed a compromise: he asked the two women to negotiate and allow one to step aside. He offered that whoever withdrew would still secure a CEC slot, since he is authorized, as founding Chairman of the Movement, to nominate five members directly.

The proposal would have guaranteed both women positions in CEC without going through a draining contest. However, neither Anita Among nor Rebecca Kadaga accepted the deal. Their refusal means the race will continue, producing a clear winner and a loser, contrary to Museveni’s de-escalation plan.

Many in the session viewed Museveni’s proposal as reasonable, and reports suggest the President may have felt slighted by the women’s outright rejection. His offer was seen as a strategic attempt to prevent conflict while keeping both candidates influential in the party.

In another development, Museveni addressed issues in the Buganda region race. Businessman Moses Karangwa, vying for the position of NRM Vice Chairman for Buganda, was questioned over land-related grievances. The President cited petitions accusing Karangwa of sidelining others and revealed that Gen Nalweyiso was already investigating the matter. Museveni warned Karangwa that he would have to face his accusers to clear his name.

The CEC session underscored both Museveni’s efforts to manage internal competition and his disciplinary oversight within the party. His attempts to balance unity and fairness highlight the tense but calculated nature of NRM politics as the 2026 elections draw closer.

Observers now predict that the refusal by Among and Kadaga to accept the President’s compromise could set the stage for a heated showdown. Their determination to stay in the race signals that personal ambitions may outweigh party directives, with the coming weeks expected to bring intense lobbying and behind-the-scenes maneuvers that will shape the outcome of the leadership contest.