The Office of the Clerk to Parliament has officially set May 25, 2026, as the date when newly sworn-in Members of Parliament will elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker who will lead Uganda’s 12th Parliament for the next five years.
According to an announcement delivered by Peter Odeke from the Office of the Clerk to Parliament, the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be the first major business conducted by the new Parliament following the swearing-in of Members of Parliament.
The race for the Speakership is already attracting significant political attention, with several prominent figures reportedly expressing interest in challenging incumbent Speaker Anita Among. Among those said to be interested are Norbert Mao, the MP-elect for Laroo-Pece Division and current Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Lydia Wanyoto, the Woman MP-elect for Mbale City; and Persis Namuganza, the MP for Bukono County.
Political dynamics surrounding the leadership contest intensified earlier this week after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and chairperson of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), withdrew the movement’s endorsement of Speaker Anita Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa for the top parliamentary positions. The development has sparked fresh debate within political circles over the future leadership of the House and the influence of emerging political factions ahead of the new parliamentary term.
Meanwhile, the transition to the 12th Parliament formally commenced yesterday as 184 newly elected Members of Parliament took their oaths of office during a well-organized alphabetical ceremony held at Parliament House in Kampala.
The swearing-in exercise was presided over by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, assisted by 21 clerk assistants. The ceremony marked the first constitutional step in officially constituting Uganda’s 12th Parliament following the January 2026 General Elections.
More MPs are expected to take oath in subsequent sessions before the House convenes for the election of its leadership later this month. Political analysts say the upcoming Speaker election is likely to be one of the most closely watched contests in recent parliamentary history, given the growing competition among senior political figures and shifting alliances within the ruling establishment.
