Kampala – The Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has issued a statement denying allegations that she intends to contest for the presidency of Uganda in the upcoming general elections.
According to a press statement signed by Bishop Samuel, Press Secretary to the First Deputy Prime Minister/Minister for EAC Affairs, a false poster circulating on social media claiming Kadaga’s intention to run for president is entirely fabricated. The statement describes the spread of this misinformation as the work of “unscrupulous and ill-mannered individuals” aiming to mislead the public.
Rt. Hon. Kadaga “categorically” states that she has no intention of standing for the presidency in the forthcoming elections. Instead, she is focusing on her re-election campaign as the Woman Member of Parliament for Kamuli District.
The office urges the public and media to rely on official communications regarding Rt. Hon. Kadaga’s political aspirations and to treat any claims or posters suggesting otherwise with the contempt they deserve.
During her time as the Speaker speculations were also rife that she was preparing for presidency but never materialised.
President Museveni who has led Uganda for 40 years has not talked about retiring, at least publicly, and therefore it remains to be seen whether he will seek re-election beyond 2026 as succession debate seems to be gaining momentum.
It is a public secret that those who have attempted to eye Museveni’s seat especially within the movement have since fallen down the pecking order. They have ended up being treated like an Ebola patient (read being isolated and crushed).
And Kadaga, analysts say, is not that kind of ‘a miscalculating politician’ who would want to behave like she has nothing to lose by challenging her longtime comrade and master.
To bring this into context, pundits say, Ugandans should reflect on 2014-2016 events when former Prime Minister and NRM Secretary General, Amama Mbabazi, attempted to challenge Museveni.
He was very powerful by all means. But guess what happened—Mbabazi was totally obliterated. He lost his SG and PM posts and the last straw to break the camel’s back was when a young girl from Koboko, Evelyne Anite, moved a resolution in Kyankwanzi which declared Museveni the NRM sole presidential candidate.
Mbabazi went on to stand as an independent on the Go Forward ticket but only managed to get 136,519 votes. He was isolated and crushed from all points. All of his friends he hoped to rely on deserted him–Kadaga must have learnt a lesson.
