PROFILE: Anita Among – Uganda’s second female speaker of Parliament since independence

On March 20, 2022, Uganda was saddened by the death news of Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah who succumbed to cancer in Seattle, USA.

Hardly a week after, in respect to national constitution commands, the process to replace the late initiated.

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM which has the majority number of legislators in the House endorsed Anita Among, the then Deputy Speaker as their flag bearer for the third biggest seat on the land.

The 48-year-old Bukedea woman MP was subsequently elected for the position on March 25, becoming the second female to serve in the position since independence after Rebecca Kadaga who held the office for two consecutive terms, 9th and 10th Parliament.

In the election held at Kololo ceremonial grounds, Among scooped 401 over Opposition’s Asuman Basarirwa who only scored 66 votes.

About Speaker Anita Among

Among is a Ugandan accountant, lawyer and politician who serves as the Member of Parliament, representing Bukedea District Women Constituency in Ugandan parliament, (2016 to date).

Born in Bukedea District on 23 November 1973, Among attended local schools for her elementary and secondary education.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, from Makerere University, in 2005. In 2008, she was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree, also by Makerere University.

In 2018, Among graduated from Kampala International University, with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

From 1998 until 2006, Among worked at Centenary Bank, one of the large commercial banks in the country.

At the time she left in 2006, she had risen to the rank of branch manager. For the ten years prior to her election to parliament, she served as a lecturer in accounting, at Kampala International University.

For two parliamentary election cycles in 2007, when Bukedea District was created, and 2011, Among lost the District Woman Representative seat to Rose Akol of the National Resistance Movement political party.

Among, a long-time member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change political party, ran in 2016 as an independent candidate. She won and is the incumbent MP.

In 2020, she joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) after falling out with her party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and won the party primaries. In the 2021 general elections, Among was one of the few legislators who was elected unopposed to join the 11th parliament though her victory was contentious because the electoral commission blocked some of her competitors from nomination.

Among declared her bid for the deputy speakership of the 11th Parliament of Uganda.

In the 10th Parliament, Among served as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).

What Constitution says

Article 82 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who are elected by Members of Parliament from among their number.

The Speaker is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments and the Business Committee.

The Speaker chairs all sittings of Parliament and ensures that debates are handled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

As head of the institution of the Legislature, the Speaker represents Parliament in its corporate relations.

The Speaker may after consultation with the President, prorogue Parliament by proclamation.

The Speaker may also, by proclamation, appoint such a place and time within Uganda where Parliament shall sit.

Uganda’s speakers of Parliament since independence

1st Parliament (National Assembly) – John Bowes Griffin (1962–1963) and Narendra M. Patel (1963– May 1966)

2nd Parliament (National Assembly) – Narendra M. Patel from 1967–January 1971

No Legislative Arm of Government 1971–1979

3rd Parliament (National Consultative Council) – Edward Rugumayo (Chairman) from 1979–1980

4th Parliament (National Assembly) – Francis K. Butagira from 23 December 1980–27 July 1985

5th Parliament (National Resistance Council) – Yoweri Museveni (Chairman) from 1986–1996

Museveni was Deputised by Al-Haji Moses Kigongo who chaired most of NRC’s meetings.

6th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) – James Wapakhabulo from 1996–1998 and Francis Ayume from 1998–2001

7th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) – Edward Ssekandi from July 2001–2006

8th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) – Edward Ssekandi from 18 May 2006–2011

9th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) – Rebecca Kadaga from 19 May 2011 – 2016

10th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) 2016–2021 – Rebecca Kadaga from 19 May 2016 – 2021

11th Parliament (Parliament of Uganda) 2021-2026 – Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah 24 May 2021- 20 March 2022