DEPUTY SPEAKER: Why Hon. Anita Among Is Taking Lead Ahead of May Polls
Kampala ,26 April 2021: Bukedea Woman Member of Parliament (MP), National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Hon.Annet Anita Among has taken a commanding lead over ten other candidates for the Deputy Speaker’s job which falls vacant in May this year.
Hon. Among alias ‘Museveni’ girl is building a wide advantage among the ruling NRM and opposition Mps and making deep inroads with some independent-NRM leaning members that have shifted away from the other 10, following their ineffective persuasion to the legislators, according to political observers.
Other NRM aspirants in the race include; Fox Odoi(West Budama North), Jacob Oboth Oboth ( West Budama South),Thomas Tayebwa(Ruhinda ), Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga) , Robinah Rwakoojo(Gomba West) and State Minister for Finance David Bahati.
Independents are; Eric Musana (Buyaga East) and Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) while forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Okin PP Ojara (Chua West) and Yusuf Nsibambi (Mawaokota South) have also expressed interest in the race.
If things don’t change, Hon.Among is likely to deputize the speaker of the 11th parliament as her camp has started expressing confidence it is on track to win enough of the house for the country’s top 5th office.
One of Among’s Campaigners at Parliament said a victory by the former banker and lecturer at Kampala University is a “foregone conclusion.’’
The former FDC deputy treasurer made headlines at parliament during this ending term and is hailed for professionalism and exceptional leadership especially when she served as Vice chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
At regional level, Anita played an instrumental role in the mediation of South Sudan leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar which saw relative peace return to the youngest country in the great lakes region. It should be noted that South Sudan is one of Uganda’s biggest markets in the region and her political situation affects her directly.
Among is also credited for having autonomous and conflict resolution skills that would be of great substance in mending the relationship between the opposition parties in the House and the ruling NRM government for the better running of the house.
‘’Ms. Among is currently ahead of her opponents by a bigger percentage points, she is likely to garner about 60 percent of the vote compared with 40 percent expected for the other candidates. That is among the most dismal showings of Among’s opponents’ speaker-ship bid, and a sign that they are the clear underdog right now in their fight for that office’’, commented a political spectator from one of the agencies.
Most of Among’s opponents have been unpopular candidates both among opposition and ruling NRM groups for virtually their entire time. They have made few efforts since their stay in parliament to broaden their support beyond their constituencies.
But among a striking cross-section of Mps especially the first timers , the distaste for Among’s competitors has deepened as their administration in parliament especially the incumbents sitting on various committees failed to deliver and handing them a National seat will be a menace .
Political experts also argue that the dominant picture that emerges from the poll is of a parliament ready to reject the ten Hon.Among rivals whom the strong majority of MPs regard as failing the greatest tests in the outgoing parliament.
What’s striking, though, is that even from her rival’s regions, here one would expect to be their strongholds, they have damaged themselves with poor performance in their respective areas.
‘’Anita Among is still favoured to win the 11th Deputy speaker chair, her conistence ,exposure and unifying approach will build the house”,added one of the Mps from Western Uganda.
Due to his good working relationship with her, President Museveni portrayed Anita as a good workaholic MP thus asking other legislators to emulate her.
“Honorable Anita Among has developed her area. I have been to schools that she has built using her personal money. I have also supported her. She is a bit like me when I went to the bush because I did not know where the guns would come from but I started,” Museveni said during a public rally in Bukedea district.
In 2005, Among attained a Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting). She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking from Uganda Martyrs University, a Masters in Business Administration (Accounting) from Makerere University and Bachelor of Laws from Kampala International University obtained in 2018.
She earlier worked with Centenary bank for 10 years before she resigned in 2007 to contest for the Bukedea seat. After she lost the election, she got a teaching job at Makerere University Business School (Mubs) and later Kampala International University (KIU).
Outspoken Among ,who has developed Bukedea in all areas ranging from Health ,Infrastructure, Education , and supporting the wellbeing of residents through local development groups ,also enjoys support from majority Mps who have vowed to see her deputize the speaker of the 11th parliament.
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