Uganda’s politics has often been a game of personalities rather than principles. Now, the country is being told to choose between Anita Among and Rebecca Kadaga. Yet the truth is blunt: neither offers the integrity, vision, or credibility that Uganda urgently needs.
Anita Among: Sanctions and Scandal
Anita Among, the current Speaker of Parliament, has become synonymous with controversy. She is not just accused of corruption—she is globally sanctioned for it. In April 2024, the UK government sanctioned her over the alleged theft of public resources, citing abuse of office and diversion of funds. For a presiding officer of Parliament, that is more than a “political challenge”—it is a national embarrassment.
Domestically, her name has been tied to questionable procurement deals, misuse of public funds, and the kind of excess that erodes public trust. Among is no longer simply a politician with critics; she is a symbol of institutional rot dressed in power’s robes.
Rebecca Kadaga: Age Limit and Fatigue
Rebecca Kadaga, her predecessor, does not escape scrutiny either. She was at the helm during the 2017 constitutional amendment that scrapped the presidential age limit. That single act dismantled one of Uganda’s last democratic guardrails, enabling indefinite rule. For many Ugandans, it remains the betrayal that defined her speakership.
Beyond that, Kadaga now comes across as politically exhausted. Once hailed as a trailblazer for women in politics, she increasingly falls back on arguments of seniority and experience. But Ugandans are not looking for lectures about the past—they are searching for leadership fit for the future.
A False Choice
When placed side by side, the verdict is clear. Among is scandal-ridden, under sanctions, and a liability abroad. Kadaga is tied to constitutional betrayal, visibly weary, and politically patronising.
Ugandans deserve better than choosing between a leader tainted by theft and one remembered for dismantling democratic safeguards. Both represent different shades of political baggage—neither inspires the confidence required to move the country forward.
Uganda’s real challenge is not picking between Among and Kadaga, but breaking free from recycled leadership altogether. Citizens deserve leaders who are untainted, visionary, and accountable to the people, not to power or personal wealth.
The future cannot be entrusted to scandal or fatigue. Uganda needs renewal—fresh voices, credible leadership, and a politics grounded in service, not survival.
Until then, the so-called choice between Anita Among and Rebecca Kadaga is no choice at all—just another reminder of how low our political standards have sunk.
