In a recent speech, President Yoweri Museveni lauded Speaker Anita Among for her role in enhancing cooperation between Parliament and the Executive.
“I am very pleased with what Anita Among has accomplished, as it has reduced tensions between Parliament and the Executive,” he remarked. However, this praise has sparked a debate among political analysts regarding whether the Speaker has jeopardized Parliament’s independence in a bid to win the president’s favor.
Critics contend that Among’s methods are eroding Parliament’s vital function as a check on executive authority, a fundamental principle of Uganda’s democracy.
Political analyst Yusuf Sserunkuma commented on the discourse, asserting that Among has become an influential figure within Museveni’s government.
“Museveni has found the ideal speaker he has always desired at a time when he is quite advanced in age—this is Anita Among. She will be remembered as the speaker he wanted most,” he said.
Sserunkuma further expressed concern about the current dynamics in Parliament, suggesting that the Speaker’s closeness to the executive could undermine the legislature’s power.
“Remember the days when opposition MPs would discreetly venture into State House? That’s no longer the case because Museveni has acquired what is seen as a shock absorber,” Sserunkuma noted.
In contrast, Miria Matembe voiced her dissatisfaction with the present condition of Parliament.
“At this moment, it is impossible to consider Parliament as an independent organ of the state as it ought to be,” she stated.
The president’s comments emerge amidst criticism of Parliament concerning its management of budget allocations and its perceived alignment with the executive.
While President Museveni’s commendations for Speaker Among underscore a collaborative relationship between the legislative and executive branches, they also raise significant concerns about the independence and integrity of Parliament.
