The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, has been nominated unopposed as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the Bukedea District Woman Member of Parliament seat in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
Among’s sole challenger, Ms. Hellen Akol Odeke, was disqualified from the party primaries by the NRM Electoral Commission after a verification process concluded she did not meet the residency requirements stipulated in the party guidelines.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among displays her nomination papers. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among waiting to be nominated on Monday. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaking during the nomination exercise held at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala on Monday, the Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, explained that Ms. Odeke’s nomination was rejected because she is not a bona fide resident of Malera Sub-county, the area she had listed as her political base.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among being received by NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach shortly before she was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among being received by NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach shortly before she was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among being received by NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach shortly before she was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among being received by NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach shortly before she was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach (not in the picture) shortly the Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among being received by NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi shortly before she was nominated. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
NRM Electoral Commission Chair Dr.Tanga Odoi (middl;e) with his Commissioners and his deputy Hon. Fred Jachan Omach shortly before they nominated the Speaker Of Parliament Rt.Hon.Anita Annet Among . Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
“After receiving a petition questioning her eligibility, we conducted an investigation. The Secretary General of the party subsequently wrote to us, confirming that Ms. Odeke is not a resident of the village she registered in. While she owns land there, she neither resides nor has established continuous presence in that locality. On that basis, we found her ineligible to contest,” Dr. Tanga said.
The party’s rules require all aspirants to demonstrate clear and verifiable residency in the area they wish to represent. This regulation, the EC chair noted, is aimed at promoting accountability and preventing opportunistic political bids that are detached from local realities.
However, in a phone interview, Ms. Odeke rejected the basis for her disqualification and accused the party of unfair treatment. “I have lived in Malera. I rented there, and I own land in the same area. That is enough proof of my presence and intention to serve the people. This decision is political and meant to frustrate my bid,” she said.
Ms. Odeke claimed that she has previously faced obstacles in her political career allegedly orchestrated by powerful individuals within the party. “Since 2021, I have faced unnecessary hurdles in my effort to offer myself for leadership. But I am not backing down. This is only temporary. I still intend to appear on the ballot, and I will seek redress through the right channels,” she vowed.
Speaker Among, who also serves as the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Eastern Region, is expected to seek re-election to Parliament for a third consecutive term. She was first elected as Bukedea Woman MP in a 2017 by-election following the death of then MP Rose Akol. She retained the seat in the 2021 general elections and later ascended to the position of Speaker following the death of her predecessor, Jacob Oulanyah.
Her nomination comes amid a wave of early endorsements for several high-profile NRM leaders, including Vice President Jessica Alupo and Security Minister Jim Muhwezi, who were also cleared unopposed in their respective constituencies due to what the party said were “special scheduling needs.”
NRM’s early nomination window, which began ahead of the formal party primaries set to run later in the year, is part of the party’s strategy to streamline its internal electoral processes, reduce congestion at district offices, and avoid potential conflicts.
Dr. Tanga reiterated the party’s commitment to a transparent and orderly nomination process. He said the Commission had received over 2,700 expressions of interest for various elective positions, including parliamentary, district chairperson, and mayoral races.
“The party remains committed to vetting all candidates in line with our constitution. We shall ensure that those who represent NRM are people of integrity, with strong ties to their communities,” he said.
If no further appeals are successful, Speaker Among will advance as the official NRM candidate in the 2026 elections, where she is widely expected to retain her seat, given her political stature and influence in the district.
Source:The Kampala Repoort