Bukedea, Uganda – Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has been nominated unopposed as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the Bukedea District Woman Member of Parliament seat, following the disqualification of her only challenger, Hellen Akol Odeke, on grounds of residency.
The announcement was made by the NRM Electoral Commission on Monday evening, confirming that Among would carry the party’s flag in the 2026 general election for a third consecutive term.
“The Electoral Commission found that Ms. Akol Odeke is not a resident of the village she declared in her nomination documents. She only purchased land in the area but does not live there, which contravenes the party’s eligibility requirements.”
With her sole opponent disqualified, Speaker Among’s path to re-election appears nearly sealed in a district where the ruling NRM enjoys overwhelming dominance.
Political watchers say the nomination solidifies Among’s grip on Bukedea politics, but questions are now being raised about the integrity of the internal vetting process, especially following Akol Odeke’s widely publicized declaration to challenge the Speaker just last week.
“I was ready to face her at the ballot. The people of Bukedea deserve a choice. But I have been shut out on technicalities,” Akol said.
The NRM Electoral Commission cited Article 4.4(c) of its internal regulations, which mandates that any aspiring flag bearer must be a bona fide resident of the electoral area they seek to represent.
In Akol’s case, the Commission concluded she did not reside in the parish she claimed, disqualifying her just days after she picked nomination forms amid excitement from sections of the community.
However, critics argue that the ruling smells of political shielding for a high-ranking government official.
“This is not just a technicality, it is suppression,” said a youth leader in Bukedea who had pledged support to Akol. “How many other politicians across the country rent or own homes in places they don’t live full-time? Why is this rule only being applied here?”
Anita Among, who also serves as NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of the 11th Parliament, has grown into one of the most influential women in Ugandan politics.
Her nomination solidifies her stature not only as a Bukedea powerbroker but also as a central pillar in the NRM’s 2026 national campaign machinery.
Despite facing criticism over the autocratic tone of her leadership style, her strong support base in Bukedea and her clout within the party hierarchy have made her virtually untouchable in local politics.
With the NRM ticket now secured, attention turns to whether opposition parties like the NUP, FDC, or independents will field a candidate capable of challenging Among’s dominance in the general election.
However, with voter loyalty heavily skewed toward the NRM in the region and state machinery visibly aligned, any such challenge would likely face an uphill battle.
Still, Akol’s supporters say this isn’t the end of her political ambitions.
“You can disqualify her from a party process, but you cannot silence the voice of the people,” a supporter declared defiantly during a community gathering in Kidongole Sub-county.
Also Read: Minister Anifa Kawooya’s eyes Sembabule NRM Chair