Why My Witness to the Fall of Anita Among Offers No Comfort

Why My Witness to the Fall of Anita Among Offers No Comfort

In Ugandan politics, few narratives are as seductive as the belief that unwavering loyalty to the system, coupled with expansive patronage networks, can shield one indefinitely from accountability. The current troubles confronting Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, Speaker of the outgoing 11th Parliament, should serve as a sobering lesson to all who hold this illusion.As of mid-May 2026, the Bukedea Woman MP finds herself at the centre of a fierce political storm. Once seemingly untouchable endorsed by the NRM Central Executive Committee and initially by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)  Among is now facing intense pressure to exit the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, with reports indicating she was advised as much during a high-level State House meeting.

The Precipice

The triggers are familiar yet potent: allegations of rapid wealth accumulation, including the high-profile acquisition of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly valued at around Shs 3.4 billion, ongoing investigations by the Inspectorate of Government into her asset declarations, and public backlash over perceived extravagance amid widespread citizen hardship.

PLU, closely associated with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, dramatically withdrew its earlier endorsement. Other aspirants, including Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Norbert Mao, have emerged as alternatives. The parliamentary election for Speaker is scheduled for May 25, 2026, and the arithmetic that once favoured Among now appears far less certain.

Patronage and Loyalty: A False Shield?

Among rose through strategic alliances, cross-party outreach (including support for independents and even some opposition figures during campaigns), and demonstrated effectiveness in managing parliamentary business. She cultivated a broad base of “friendly” MPs and positioned herself as a key player within the system. Yet her current predicament reveals a core truth: in systems characterised by institutional capture, loyalty and patronage are transactional currencies powerful until they are not. When public perception, internal re-alignments, or higher calculations shift, even the most networked operators can find themselves exposed.

This is not unique to Among. Ugandan politics has repeatedly shown that proximity to power and the ability to dispense favours create an illusion of permanence. But accountability when it comes is rarely gentle. It is often driven less by abstract principles of justice and more by political expediency, optics, and the need to manage broader regime stability.

No Comfort in the Fall

For those who have long criticised governance failures, Among’s difficulties might initially feel like vindication. However, this offers no real comfort. Her potential fall does not signal a strengthening of institutions. Instead, it highlights their fragility and selective nature.If Among is sidelined primarily due to flashy wealth displays and shifting alliances rather than a robust, transparent accountability mechanism applied consistently across the board, then the lesson is bleak: the system corrects itself not through independent strength, but through internal power recalibrations.

True institutional health would mean predictable, rule-based scrutiny of all public officials — regardless of loyalty levels or usefulness. It would mean transparent asset declarations, independent anti-corruption bodies, and parliamentary leadership contests decided more by competence and integrity than patronage arithmetic.

A Deeper Reflection

The Anita Among saga is a crucible exposing the limits of personalised politics. Uncritical loyalty may fast-track one’s ascent, but it rarely guarantees a soft landing when the political winds change. Patronage networks can deliver parliamentary majorities and short-term protection, yet they remain vulnerable to the very forces that created them.

As Uganda’s 12th Parliament begins its work, the real test is not whether one individual rises or falls, but whether the institutions can evolve beyond this cycle of patronage, spectacle, and selective accountability. Citizens deserve more than watching powerful figures rise on loyalty and descend on controversy.

The fall or survival of Anita Among will be instructive. But unless it leads to deeper structural reforms, it will remain a personal political tragedy rather than a national turning point toward genuine accountability.