In a move that has sent ripples through Busoga’s political landscape, the Member of Parliament for Budiope East, Eng. Moses Magogo, has publicly advised people close to former Speaker of Parliament and Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, to encourage her to retire from active politics. Magogo’s unvarnished comments, made during a talk show on Baba FM in Jinja, have sparked debate, particularly given the escalating political rivalry involving his wife, the current Speaker, Anita Annet Among.
Magogo’s take is framed as compassionate counsel. “A person who loves Kadaga like me would advise her to rest and become an advisor! Those who don’t love her are the ones encouraging her to stay in active politics,” he asserted, suggesting that Kadaga is now ripe to become an advisor instead of contesting for political office at a national level.On the surface, Magogo’s statement could be interpreted as a genuine concern for a long-serving, highly decorated political figure. Rebecca Kadaga has been a towering presence in Ugandan politics for decades, serving as Speaker of Parliament for ten years and holding various ministerial positions before that. Her extensive experience naturally lends itself to an advisory role, often seen as a dignified way for seasoned politicians to transition out of the cut-and-thrust of electoral politics.
However, this advice cannot be viewed in isolation from the intense political undercurrents currently at play within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Moses Magogo’s wife, Anita Annet Among, is locked in a heated contest with Rebecca Kadaga for the influential NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) second Vice Chairperson (Female) position. This pivotal party election is set to take place in August, and both women have already kicked off nationwide campaigns, often exchanging subtle – and sometimes not so subtle – jibes in their tactical approaches to woo voters.
In this context, Magogo’s “loving advice” takes on a distinctly strategic flavour. By suggesting Kadaga should retire and assume an advisory role, he implicitly argues that her time as an active competitor for high-level political office, particularly within the NRM party structure, should come to an end. This would, by extension, clear the path for new leadership, including potentially his wife, Anita Among, in the CEC race.
The NRM CEC is a powerful decision-making body within the party, and securing a position there translates directly into significant political influence and proximity to the party chairman, President Yoweri Museveni. For both Kadaga and Among, winning this seat is crucial for consolidating their power bases and shaping the future direction of the party.
Magogo’s comments, therefore, can be seen as a calculated move in this political chess match – an attempt to influence public perception and perhaps even sway party delegates by framing Kadaga’s continued active campaigning as an act encouraged by those who “don’t love her,” implying it’s against her best interests or legacy. It subtly suggests that her era of direct electoral competition might be drawing to a close, making way for a new generation of leaders.
The “interesting take” here lies in the duality of Magogo’s message. Is it truly a heartfelt recommendation for a veteran politician to enjoy a graceful exit, or is it a sharp, strategic jab aimed at weakening an opponent in a high-stakes political battle? For many observers, given the direct familial link to one of Kadaga’s main rivals, the latter interpretation holds significant weight. As the August party elections draw nearer, such tactical pronouncements are likely to become even more frequent, underscoring the fierce competition shaping the future of Uganda’s political elite.
