The Kira Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, has criticized Speaker Anita Among and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, for their suspected participation in Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s unauthorized national tours.
Gen. Muhoozi, a senior presidential advisor on special duties and a serving military commander who is the son of President Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has stirred up controversy by announcing his ambition to run for president in the 2026 elections.
Due to a possible violation of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Act, 2005, this action has caused alarm. Military officers are expressly prohibited from participating in party politics, per Section 99 of the UPDF Act.
The UPDF should preserve a nonpartisan, national, professional, disciplined, and patriotic character, according to Article 208 (2) of the Constitution.
Additionally, Section 16 of the Political Organizations Act prohibits employees of government-owned companies, public servants, religious and cultural leaders, and members of the armed forces from engaging in partisan politics. Ssemujju expressed his worries.
He cited a recent political gathering held in Bukedea District that Speaker Among hosted as part of a housewarming celebration, during which Speaker Among was seen on camera endorsing Gen. Muhoozi.
Ssemujju has accused his superiors of violating the Constitution and encouraging a suspected illegal act by Gen. Muhoozi as a result of this action. Attorney Hassan Male Mabirizi is contesting this matter before the East African Court of Justice.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa defended the gathering, asserting that it was an open-to-all Thanksgiving ritual, in response to these accusations. He claimed that military officers are not specifically prohibited from attending such activities.
Dr. Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), shared Ssemujju’s worries.
On her Twitter page, Dr. Bireete chastised Speaker Among for disobeying the Constitution, in particular Article 79 (3), which entrusts the Speaker with the duty of preserving the Constitution and promoting democratic administration in Uganda.
Dr. Bireete questioned how Speaker Among, who is in charge of upholding Uganda’s democratic government and the Constitution, could participate in legal-abusing activities on behalf of a serving military officer.
Gen. Muhoozi spoke at political gatherings posing as birthday celebrations earlier in the year. In the areas of infrastructure, sports, and the fight against corruption, he promised increased spending and better service delivery.
Gen. Muhoozi’s activities, according to attorney Mabirizi’s petition to the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania, are in violation of key EAC principles like good governance, democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, and social justice.
Important questions about the relationship between military duty and politics in Uganda are raised by the legal case.