The recent blockade of Nation Media Group (NTG) journalists from Parliament has placed the institution’s Speaker, Anita Among, at the center of a burgeoning storm over press freedom in Uganda. While the Deputy Speaker has distanced the top leadership from the decision, the incident has prompted intense speculation about the Speaker’s motives and her burgeoning profile within Uganda’s complex political landscape.
The direct question—”Why is Speaker Anita Among against press freedom?”—oversimplifies a more nuanced reality. Officially, neither Speaker Among nor Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has publicly advocated for silencing the media. Tayebwa has stated the decision to bar NTV was “news to him,” framing it as an administrative, not a political, action.
However, political analysts and press freedom advocates point to a pattern where critical media scrutiny is often met with resistance. NTV and the Daily Monitor have run investigative reports on parliamentary spending and the growing trend of “unopposed” candidates, including the Speaker’s own re-election. In this context, the blockade is widely perceived as a retaliatory measure against unfavourable coverage. Whether directed by the Speaker’s office or occurring within a system she leads, the outcome is a chilling effect on journalists who report critically on Parliament’s leadership.
This leads to the second, and more speculative, question: Is Anita Among the next president after Museveni?
This theory has gained traction in recent months, transforming her into a central figure in Uganda’s ever-present succession debate. Several factors fuel this speculation:
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Rapid Rise and Consolidation of Power: Speaker Among has ascended quickly to one of the most powerful positions in the country. She has presided over a Parliament that has largely been aligned with the Executive, demonstrating an ability to manage the legislative agenda effectively from the government’s perspective.
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The “Unopposed” Phenomenon: Her own unopposed re-election as Speaker and the similar re-election of Deputy Speaker Tayebwa signaled an unprecedented consolidation of power within the House, eliminating internal opposition. This display of political strength is seen by many as a key prerequisite for any presidential aspirant.
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Building a National Profile: Unlike many parliamentarians, Among has cultivated a visible national profile, often championing populist initiatives and maintaining a strong presence in the media—until recent critical reports.
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The Succession Void: With no clear successor to President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, the political arena is rife with speculation. Among’s name is frequently mentioned alongside others, such as the First Son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as a potential frontrunner in a post-Museveni era.
For a figure allegedly building a national profile for higher office, a hostile relationship with the independent press could be a significant liability—or a calculated risk. Neutralizing critical media voices can be a tactic to control the narrative and present a unified, unchallenged front to the public. The current standoff with NMG could be interpreted as a test of her power and a message to other media houses about the cost of critical reporting on her leadership.
while there is no public evidence directly linking Speaker Among to an anti-press freedom policy, the actions of the institution she leads align with a pattern of intimidating critical media. This, combined with her rapid political ascent, fuels the narrative that she is positioning herself for the ultimate prize, where controlling the public narrative is often considered a key strategic objective. The blockade of NMG is not just a press freedom issue; it is a move being closely watched by those charting the treacherous waters of Uganda’s political future.
