Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has stirred debate after using a pointed analogy to describe the limits of political cooperation, remarks widely interpreted as directed at Democratic Party (DP) President Norbert Mao during the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) retreat in Kyankwanzi.
Addressing the gathering, Among said cooperation between political parties does not extend to all spaces of influence.
“We do cooperate with other political parties, but the cooperation doesn’t mean that you come up to my bedroom; you remain in the compound,” she said.
The comments come amid scrutiny over Mao’s presence at the NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat, an event traditionally reserved for members of the ruling party.
Mao, who also serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, attended the retreat following a formal invitation from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In response, Mao took to X (formerly Twitter) after a clip of Among’s remarks was shared by NBS Television, defending his attendance and criticizing the tone of the Speaker’s comments.
“This is not just bad politics. It is bad manners!” Mao wrote. “Only the head of the family has the final word on who can access which room in the home. He doesn't need lectures from a recently adopted child! Above all, when you insult your father's visitors, you've insulted your father.”
Mao has consistently maintained that his participation in the retreat is in line with his official role in government and does not contradict his position as DP president.
“I was invited as Minister and Leader of DP. As the letter shows, I’m a guest of the National Chairman,” he said previously, referencing the formal invitation extended to him.
The developments highlight the sensitivity surrounding the cooperation arrangement between the DP and the NRM, particularly when it intersects with internal party platforms such as the Kyankwanzi retreat.
While Mao’s attendance is officially sanctioned, Among’s remarks and the subsequent response have reignited debate over the boundaries of political collaboration and the optics of opposition figures participating in ruling party forums.
