Court Challenge Targets Continuation of Among, Tayebwa as Parliament Leaders

By Peter Luzinda 

KAMPALA, Uganda — A judicial storm has erupted within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) after a party member filed a High Court petition challenging the endorsement of Speaker Anita Annet Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to continue in Parliament’s top leadership roles ahead of the 12th Parliament.

The petition, lodged on Friday, March 6, 2026, by Apollo Kibira at the Civil Division of the High Court, seeks a judicial review to nullify the party’s endorsement, arguing that the process violated both party and constitutional rules.

Kibira contends that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM endorsed the incumbents without allowing other eligible NRM MPs a fair opportunity to express interest in the positions. The endorsement resolutions, passed in late January and February, were communicated to the party Secretariat and the parliamentary caucus.

The petitioner named the NRM as the first respondent, with Among and Tayebwa listed as second and third respondents. He is seeking orders to quash the CEC decision, prohibit its implementation, and compel the party to conduct a fresh internal process consistent with the Constitution, the Political Parties and Organisations Act, and NRM’s internal rules.

Kibira warns that failure to intervene could render the application moot and is seeking general damages alongside court costs. Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker must be elected by MPs from among themselves in a secret ballot supervised by the Chief Justice or a designated judge.