Prime
Kadaga sends shockwaves in Busoga with Kyabazinga coup talk
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga. PHOTO/ FILE
What you need to know:
- The Mazuba Sub-county LC3 chairperson, Mr James Mugurwa, said it is okay for Speaker Among to contest against Ms Kadaga, although it will be a “disappointment” for the latter to lose in Busoga Sub-region.
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has sent shockwaves in the Busoga Sub-region by claiming that “the Kyabazingaship was overthrown”.
Ms Kadaga made the claims while being hosted on a local radio station in Kamuli after the district’s Women’s Day celebrations last week.
“The issue at the moment is that the Kyabazingaship was overthrown and it is a matter of concern,” Ms Kadaga, who is also the Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament, said.
She further accused some senior Kingdom officials she didn’t name of being “enemies of Busoga” and endorsing rival candidates to unseat her in 2026.
When contacted, Busoga Kingdom Katukiiro (Prime Minister), Dr Joseph Muvawala, said he had not heard the person of the Katukiiro referred in person.
“At an appropriate time, after consultations with the king, we will determine whether there is need for a formal response (and) when that time comes, you will surely be in copy of the Kingdom response,” he said.
When probed further on whether there had been a palace coup in the Kingdom as alleged by Ms Kadaga, Dr Muvawala stated: “I have not heard that. I have no comment. Thanks.”
Ms Proscovia Naikoba, who has twice unsuccessfully contested against Ms Kadaga, attributes the former Speaker’s utterances to the forthcoming ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections which Speaker Anita Among has expressed interest to challenge Ms Kadaga for the second national vice chairperson female position.
“Ms Kadaga is saying that Ms Veronica Vennah Kagona (Busoga Kingdom State Minister for Youth Affairs/Information and Communication Technology), is being sponsored and fronted by the Kyabazingaship and Speaker Among, while I was being supported by State House, like she said about (Salaam) Musumba. She should be happy that competition in democracy is healthy, and young girls coming to compete against her will give her time to check her popularity, renew her public trust and performance,” Ms Naikoba said.
An official from the Kyabazingaship in Bugabula chiefdom, who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to speak for the Kingdom, blamed the rising tensions on “personal egos”.
“While Ms Kadaga is right to raise her concerns about the Kingdom, she used the wrong forum and failed to live with the reality of shifting alliances,” he said.
Mr Moses Kisaame, the Ivukula Sub-county LC3 chairperson, said the “confusion” that has gripped the Kyabazingaship is hinged on Ms Kadaga’s assertions that Kyabazinga’s loyalists are supporting Speaker Among to clinch the CEC position.
He added: “If Ms Kadaga is voted out in the 2026 elections, Busoga doesn’t have any other alternative and will continue to be ‘disorganised’ because she plays a crucial role in the Kyabazingaship.
“I think she (Kadaga) is right to say Kyabazingaship was overthrown because currently, Speaker Among seems to have more support and power now in Busoga.”
The Mazuba Sub-county LC3 chairperson, Mr James Mugurwa, said it is okay for Speaker Among to contest against Ms Kadaga, although it will be a “disappointment” for the latter to lose in Busoga Sub-region.
Some locals, however, say Ms Kadaga’s reconciliation with the State Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Ms Persis Namuganza, might have prompted the Kyabazingaship to back Speaker Among because Ms Namuganza is a Prince Wambuzi loyalist.
Ms Kadaga and Ms Namuganza clashed and fell out in 2018 over their support for different candidates in the Kyabazingaship feud that rocked the Busoga Sub-region at the time.
I'm supporting Kadaga for NRM CEC position - Namuganza
The wrangles over the Kyabazingaship initially pitted then Prince Gabula against Prince Wambuzi, but their rivalry escalated when Ms Namuganza accused Ms Kadaga of meddling in the affairs of Nkono chiefdom in Namutumba District by supporting Mr Godfrey Mutyaba as Royal Chief, contrary to her preference for Charles Mutyaba.
Ms Kadaga, then Speaker of Parliament, while speaking at Chief Mutyaba’s swearing-in ceremony at Ivukula Sub-county headquarters, vowed to fight all “detractors” of the Kyabazingaship, stating, “Busoga Kingdom is bigger than any individual.”
Even though Ms Kadaga did not refer to anyone, Minister Namuganza's perceived hostility towards Ms Kadaga continued so long as Mr Mutyaba was fronted as Nkono chiefdom's royal chief, not Charles Mutyaba; and Prince Nadiope as Kyabazingaship's royal chief, not Prince Wambuzi.
The rift led to Namuganza's expulsion from the Busoga Parliamentary Group, where she represented the Bukono Constituency after she failed to apologize for her remarks against Kadaga.
In 2020, the duo reignited their feud in the steamy race for the position of Second Vice Chairperson (Female) of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), in which Ms Kadaga emerged victorious, garnering 6,776 votes against Ms Namuganza’s 3,943.
However, last August, the pair officiated at a tourism campaign trail in Bukono chiefdom, Namutumba District, unveiling a herbal forest and historical stone. Following the tour of the tourism sites, Ms Namuganza took Ms Kadaga to her home in Ivukula Village, Ivukula Sub-county, where she shared a meal with her.
Later, at Ivukula Town Council headquarters, Ms Namuganza commended Ms Kadaga for promoting tourism in Busoga Sub-region. However, before inviting Ms Kadaga to speak, Ms Namuganza referred to Kadaga as “Mama Busoga” (Mother of Busoga) and pledged her full support.
Mr William Matanta, a resident of Bulagala Village, however, says there is no impact the Kyabazingaship will cause by not supporting Ms Kadaga’s candidature at the NRM CEC.
“It is the voters who will decide, not the Kyabazingaship,” he said.
