NRM Closes Expression of Interest for Speaker, Deputy Speaker Races Ahead of 12th Parliament Leadership Vote

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has officially concluded the exercise ahead of the leadership elections for Uganda’s 12th Parliament.

The exercise, which closed on Saturday at the NRM Electoral Commission offices in Kyadondo, attracted a total of three aspirants for the Speaker position and sixteen candidates for Deputy Speaker, according to the Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Tanga Odoi. 

Speaking shortly after the closure of the process, Dr. Odoi confirmed that the nominations were conducted in line with directives issued by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) during its sitting held on May 22, 2026.

“The expression of interest started yesterday and today we have concluded the exercise. We now have three candidates for Speaker and sixteen candidates for Deputy Speaker,” Dr. Odoi revealed.

He explained that all the aspirants are expected to appear before the party’s Central Executive Committee for vetting on Sunday morning. During the session, the NRM Electoral Commission will present the names of all interested candidates alongside summarised curriculum vitae for consideration by the party’s top organ.

“The people who have expressed interest in the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be vetted by the Central Executive Committee tomorrow. After presentation by the Electoral Commission, CEC will guide on the way forward,” he stated.

According to Dr. Odoi, the next course of action now entirely rests in the hands of the CEC, which will determine whether the ruling party settles for consensus candidates or allows all aspirants to proceed to a vote within the NRM Parliamentary Caucus.

“If CEC says we take one candidate for Speaker and one for Deputy Speaker, that becomes the party position. If CEC says all candidates proceed to the caucus for election by lining up, that also becomes the position,” he explained.

The highly anticipated NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon at State House Entebbe, where party legislators are expected to settle on the official NRM flag bearers for the two influential parliamentary offices.

Political analysts view the internal process as crucial in shaping the leadership structure of the forthcoming 12th Parliament, especially given the dominance of the NRM in the House.

“By tomorrow evening, the NRM flag bearers for Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be known,” Dr. Odoi added.

He further expressed confidence that the ruling party would retain both positions when Parliament convenes on Monday to elect its new leadership, citing the NRM’s overwhelming numerical advantage in Parliament.

The race for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions has already generated significant political interest within the ruling party, with aspirants expected to intensify lobbying efforts ahead of the decisive caucus meeting.

The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker marks one of the first major activities of a new Parliament and plays a critical role in determining the legislative direction, parliamentary oversight, and management of House business for the next five years.

With the NRM maintaining a commanding majority in Parliament, the outcome of the party’s internal processes is widely expected to heavily influence the final vote on the floor of Parliament.