Ssemujju: Mabirizi petition may spell doom for speaker Among 

The recent participation of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, at a rally for the MK Movement in the eastern district of Bukedea has stirred discussions in political circles.

Photographs online showed Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba seated between the parliamentary leaders. Gen Kainerugaba, the president’s son, has been touring regions, ostensibly to bolster his presidential aspirations. Both Among and Tayebwa were among the 200-strong delegation of MPs and ministers at the Bukedea rally.

Despite Uganda’s National Order of Precedence positioning the speaker and her deputy far above Muhoozi, their rally appearance has been interpreted by some as evidence of the army’s entwinement with politics. Ivan Bwowe, a constitutional lawyer, emphasized that their attendance highlights military involvement in politics, a stance that challenges the 1995 constitution’s civil-military power separation principle.

Bwowe further conveyed concerns over the setting of potentially dangerous precedents. He noted that these actions strain the civilian-army relationship.

Anonymous sources have criticized Speaker Among, suggesting she may be aligning the Parliament closer to President Museveni and his family. Historical comparisons have been made, with previous Parliamentary leaderships, like Rebecca Kadaga’s, being commended for a more national focus.

“She is diligently striving to place the entire parliament under the influence of Mr Museveni and his family. It’s evident in the way MPs eagerly awaited their turn for a photo with Muhoozi. While she isn’t the first speaker from the ruling NRM, even predecessors like Rebecca Kadaga, who hailed from the same party, maintained a national perspective in their roles as speakers of the Ugandan parliament,” one source remarked.

The source further commented, “The leadership of the 11th Parliament leaves much to be desired. The most commendable parliament under Museveni’s tenure was the sixth.”

Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, expressed that both Among and Tayebwa need to transcend partisan politics. Nganda emphasized their essential roles, noting that in the absence of a president and vice president, the speaker would assume that role. The duo’s participation in events potentially contravening Article 208 (2) of the constitution raises Concerns.

“We swear an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, as well as another oath specific to the parliament,” he stated. He argued that it’s inconceivable for the speaker and her deputy to be involved in actions prohibited by Article 208 (2) of Uganda’s Constitution and the UPDF Act.

“How can the speaker and her deputy be involved in endorsing someone who’s potentially committing a crime? Such involvement jeopardizes the reputation of the parliamentary institution, especially if the Mabirizi petition were to prevail,” he said.

Ssemujju cautioned that both Among and Tayebwa must rise above partisan politics. He noted that as Among and Tayebwa are younger than him, it falls upon him to guide them.

“In the event that the country lacks a president or vice president, the speaker assumes that role. I must remind them of the significance of their office to the nation.”

The narrative took a legal turn on August 18, 2023, when lawyer Male Mabirizi filed a case against Muhoozi, Among and Tayebwa. The case revolved around a charge of organizing an unlawful gathering, citing the Political Parties and Organizations Act which restricts certain members, including armed forces, from partisan politics.

While Tayebwa has downplayed the controversy, stating the Bukedea event was not political, legal experts like Eron Kiiza believe legal repercussions for the leaders are unlikely. Kiiza elaborated that any legal actions would only serve as political ammunition against them.

“If they were to appear in court, they’d likely rally the entire parliament to join them as a sign of solidarity. While this would create quite a spectacle, I doubt it’ll come to that. Among and Tayebwa are savvy enough to steer clear of legal entanglements,” Kiiza said. He further added, “If Among and Tayebwa were to be charged, it would portray them as criminals, handing their political adversaries in the ruling NRM an advantage.”

“Their roles are largely symbolic; so, these legal threats might serve as nothing more than ammunition for their NRM rivals. They preside over a parliament that’s perceived as weak and under the influence of President Museveni and his lineage. Their deviation from constitutional principles suggests that the country is being governed less by its Constitution and more by the whims of certain individuals. In the grand scheme of state affairs, these individuals seem more beholden to the military, particularly the Kaguta family at its helm, than to the Ugandan people.”

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Over the past two years, Muhoozi’s political maneuvers have been via social media and regional gatherings. A 2022 petition by lawyer Gawaya Tegulle accused him of initiating early campaign tactics and challenged the chief of defense forces and the attorney general for their perceived inaction regarding Muhoozi’s actions, which seemingly breach Uganda’s Constitution and UPDF Act.

In the same petition, Tegulle criticized the chief of defence forces for not guiding Muhoozi on the legal implications and appropriateness of his actions, behavior and conduct, which appear to violate Uganda’s Constitution and the UPDF Act.

Additionally, the Attorney General is blamed for not delivering sound, appropriate, and constructive legal counsel to the UPDF at large, and to Muhoozi in particular, given that his actions and gestures clearly breach constitutional norms and are inconsistent with the standards of a professional army.