Bugisu MPs Left Stranded As Planned Meeting With Speaker Among Fails

By Gad Masereka

Plans by a section of Bugisu Members of Parliament to meet Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among in Mbale City on Friday afternoon collapsed at the last minute, leaving the legislators visibly frustrated and raising fresh questions about the region’s strategy ahead of the 12th Parliament speakership race.

The meeting, scheduled for February 27, 2026 at Wash and Wills Hotel in Mbale, had been arranged as a consultative engagement between the Speaker and nine MPs from the Bugisu sub region.

According to a source who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press, the legislators had formally sought the appointment to harmonise their position and discuss how to mobilise support for Among in the forthcoming parliamentary leadership contest.

However, by mid afternoon, the anticipated meeting had not taken place. The legislators who had gathered in Mbale were left waiting as communication about the engagement remained unclear. “We had agreed to meet and discuss the way forward as a region,” the source said. “Unfortunately, the meeting did not materialise as planned.”

Those present included John Musila of Bubulo East, Matembu Chrise Wataka of Bubulo West, Agnes Shuma of Bududa District, Peace Khalayi of Namisindwa District, Metrin Musufwa of Namisindwa County, Sarah Wekomba of Bulambuli District, Masaba Muhammed Mutonyo, Wanyenya Shafiga and Geoffrey Wokuri. Their appearance together followed a week of heightened political activity in the region.

In recent days, videos have circulated on social media showing some of the Bugisu MPs, led by Musila, publicly endorsing Among for the Speakership. The endorsements have drawn mixed reactions, with observers questioning why certain leaders are openly backing the incumbent while others from the same region have remained non committal.

The developments come amid growing competition for the Speakership position. Among the declared contenders is Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, the Woman Member of Parliament for Mbale City.

Wanyoto recently announced her intention to contest for the top parliamentary seat, describing her bid as both timely and historically significant for the Bugisu region.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Wanyoto noted that it has been three decades since a leader from Bugisu sought the Speakership, referencing the late James Wapakhabulo, who served as Uganda’s first Speaker of Parliament.

She argued that her experience places her in a strong position to lead, citing her service on the NRM Central Executive Committee, her tenure in the East African Legislative Assembly, her deployment under the African Union mission in Somalia, and her academic credentials including a Doctorate in Law.

“I believe I am the most qualified among the candidates in this race,” Wanyoto said at the time, adding that she was awaiting official gazettement as Woman MP elect for Mbale City to formally advance her bid. She called upon party leaders, including President Yoweri Museveni, to support her candidature.

The aborted meeting in Mbale therefore highlights a deeper undercurrent within Bugisu’s political ranks. While some legislators appear keen to consolidate behind the incumbent Speaker, others are rallying around a regional candidate, setting the stage for potential divisions within the sub region.

Political analysts say such early manoeuvres are typical ahead of parliamentary leadership contests, where regional blocs often seek to negotiate influence and alignments. “What we are witnessing is strategic positioning,” a Mbale based political observer said. “The question is whether the region will speak with one voice or fragment its support.”

As preparations for the 12th Parliament gather momentum, the failed engagement underscores the delicate balancing act facing Bugisu leaders. Whether they ultimately unite behind a single candidate or split along emerging loyalties could significantly shape both the region’s leverage and the national political equation in the months ahead.