Over the last four years, the political and media ecosystem around Speaker Anita Among has operated like a well-rehearsed church choir.
On social media, in parliament corridors, and on television talk shows, her defenders have been loud, energetic, and seemingly, permanently online.
“Among has a very good sense of fashion. Even her critics will agree with me,” a prominent television personality said on air after interviewing the speaker during the Martyrs Day celebrations in Namugongo in 2022.
Critics of Among, like Agather Atuhaire and Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, were routinely labelled bitter, jealous, or anti-government. The two were the brains behind a social media exhibition of Parliament in 2024 that revealed rot and corruption under Among’s nose.
Yet a week in politics in Uganda can seem like a very long time.
To be honest, Among is not the first politician to be deserted by allies at the first sign of trouble. It happened to Dr Kizza Besigye in 2000 when he broke ranks with Museveni. His allies and friends like Bright Rwamirama abandoned him as if he were a leper.
Former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, too, suffered the same fate in 2014 when Museveni clipped his wings after it emerged that he harboured presidential ambitions.
Now it is Among’s turn to face the music.
As it becomes increasingly clear that the NRM has shifted its weight behind Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the West Budama Central MP in the race for speaker of the 12th Parliament (more than 300 MPs attended his thanksgiving ceremony over the weekend), many of Among’s most vocal supporters appear to have developed cold feet.
Some have gone completely mute.
One of Among’s loudest defenders in recent years was Parliament’s director of communications, Chris Obore. The two hail from Bukedea, which Among represents in Parliament.
Whenever criticism mounted against Among over spending, corruption allegations, or Parliament’s excesses, Obore was usually ready with a sharp rebuttal, a carefully crafted statement, or a social media response.
“All evil plans against AAA are known. The planners are known. By God’s grace, AAA has the favor that she is informed in real time. They are using the Speakership race as cover. But the Speakership contest shouldn’t generate tension over nothing. It will come & go. It’s only 529 people to vote,” Obore posted on his X handle on May 3.
Yet as security agencies raided Among’s properties in Nakasero, Kigo, and Ntinda over the weekend, Obore’s usually active public voice was noticeably absent.
In fact, Obore last posted on his X handle on May 7 about “black and smelly” water in his neighbourhood that he said was a risk to lives.
As the noose tightened around Among’s neck, Joseph Sabiti, who works as the speaker’s Principal Public Relations Officer, even edited his profile on X, removing information about his office.
“Husband, father,” is how Sabiti now describes himself on his X profile.
Then there is a particular X account that spent years glorifying Among and attacking her critics.
It goes by the name of “National Scholar Uganda”. Until May 15th, the account was singing praises for Among and assuring all and sundry that she was still in the race for speaker. Three days later, it has gone quiet about Among’s troubles.
Then came what we call the political somersaults.
After her controversial victory in Masaka, Justine Nameere publicly backed Among’s bid for the speakership and started hitting back at the speaker’s perceived enemies.
Her social media exchanges with David Kabanda, the MP for Kasambya, after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) retracted its endorsement of Among, were a thing for the movies. Everything, the knives, forks, and even the kitchen sink, was thrown.
But she changed tone over the weekend after her brief detention and reported telephone conversation with President Museveni.
Speaking to supporters in Masaka yesterday, Nameere declared support for Oboth-Oboth, saying she was aligning with the official NRM position.
Even sections of the local media that have been sympathetic to Among appear to have moved with remarkable speed to distance themselves from her.
For years, Next Media has handled Among with unusually soft gloves because Parliament had become one of the company’s biggest advertising and commercial partners.
Sources at Naguru told Bbeg Media that one of the biggest sins a journalist there could commit was to write or attempt to do a story critical of Among. The media group that prides itself on being “bold” tiptoed around the corruption allegations against the speaker, facing criticism from some viewers and readers of its platforms.
But over the weekend, NBS TV, the leading brand of the company, provided extensive coverage of security searches at Among’s homes, complete with dramatic live shots and breathless commentary. This was a 360-degree turn, according to insiders at Naguru.
Therefore, as security investigations intensify and the speakership race tilts toward Oboth-Oboth, Among is discovering what many powerful Ugandan politicians eventually learn: People fatten up with you as long as you are powerful. Once you lose that power, they run away.
