Thomas Tayebwa and Norbert Mao have sparked a heated political debate over the future leadership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, drawing attention from across the country. Their exchange reveals growing tensions over who should occupy the powerful positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, with both leaders expressing firm and opposing views.
Tayebwa, who currently serves as Deputy Speaker, made it clear that he is confident the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) will produce the next Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He strongly dismissed any possibility of non-NRM members taking up those roles, describing such a move as politically dangerous. According to him, allowing outsiders to lead Parliament would weaken the ruling party and go against its principles, making it completely unacceptable.
In his remarks, Tayebwa also addressed Mao’s reported intention to rely on cooperation between the NRM and the Democratic Party (DP) to bid for the Speakership. Despite acknowledging Mao as a close associate and even his former best man, Tayebwa rejected the idea, insisting that political cooperation does not mean sharing top leadership positions in Parliament.
Mao, however, responded with a different perspective, using simple but powerful examples to challenge Tayebwa’s argument. Speaking to journalists, he questioned the idea of exclusion, asking whether such thinking would have allowed others to join the NRM in the first place. His response suggested that politics should be open and inclusive rather than controlled by one group.
To make his point clearer, Mao shared a relatable story. He narrated how he once gave a man a lift in his car, only for the passenger to complain about the radio station playing. Mao said he reminded the man that it was his car and he had the right to choose the music, while the passenger was simply benefiting from his kindness. He compared this to politics, arguing that some individuals behave like that passenger—forgetting their position while trying to dictate terms.
The exchange between the two leaders highlights deeper political divisions as Uganda prepares for the next Parliament. While Tayebwa is focused on protecting the dominance of the ruling party, Mao appears to be pushing for a more inclusive political approach that allows cooperation to influence leadership choices.
As the race for the Speakership begins to take shape, such strong statements are likely to fuel further debate. Whether the leadership of Parliament will remain strictly within the NRM or open up to broader political collaboration remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear—the contest is already heating up, and the coming months could bring even more intense political drama.
