Former Aruu County Member of Parliament, Odonga Otto, has described the speakership race for the 12th Parliament as effectively settled, singling out incumbent Anita Annet Among as the clear frontrunner.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Saturday, Otto suggested that not all candidates in the race are serious contenders.
“Some people are in the speakership race for other reasons. Some have used it to catch the eye of the appointing authority, so if they don't target the moon, they fall on the stars. Not everyone in the speakership race for the 12th Parliament is a competitor. Some are just participants,” he said.
Otto hailed Among as “destined to win,” citing her recent endorsement by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) as a decisive factor.
“This isn't a selection, it’s an election. Hon Anita Among has a huge advantage; even at an individual level, she's a unique character. She's financially magnanimous,” he said.
While praising Among, Otto also commented on Democratic Party (DP) President and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao who recently declared his bid for Speaker.
“I’m very sorry for my friend Norbert Mao, he'd have been a good candidate in the speakership race, but he should know he’s just a pawn on the chessboard,” he said, underscoring the difficulty of challenging an NRM-backed candidate in the upcoming elections.
Mao has described the current Speakership as an “accidental” outcome following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah in September 2022. In contrast, he argues the next Speakership should result from a deliberate and well-considered choice.
“There is no school for training for Speaker of Parliament,” Among responded during the Women’s Day Breakfast at Parliament on Friday, defending her current position and asserting the legitimacy of her election by 415 MPs.
Mao also emphasized his approach is rooted in dialogue and consensus-building, leveraging the DP–NRM cooperation agreement and support from MPs across party lines. Despite the DP holding only six seats in Parliament, Mao insists his experience and alliances position him as a serious contender.
Otto’s remarks come in the wake of a formal endorsement by President Museveni, who also serves as NRM National Chairman, for Among and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, for retention in the 12th Parliament.
The endorsement followed resolutions passed during the 8th meeting of the 5th Central Executive Committee (CEC)on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Signed by Museveni and NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, the resolutions designate Among and Tayebwa as the party’s official candidates for the top parliamentary positions.
Their names are now set to be forwarded to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus for formal adoption as flag bearers once the 12th Parliament convenes.
The endorsement comes amid a crowded field, with several MPs from both the ruling party and opposition expressing interest in the top posts.
Mao is one of at least six candidates vying for the Speakership.
Other contenders include incumbent Anita Among; Persis Namuganza, MP-elect for Bukono County and State Minister for Housing; Lydia Wanyoto, MP-elect for Mbale City; Dr. Florence Asiimwe Akiiki, Masindi District Woman MP; and Yorke Odria Alioni, MP for Aringa South County—all affiliated with the ruling NRM.
Observers say the speakership contest is shaping up as one of the most closely watched political stories of the year.
