What was supposed to be a calm NRM retreat has turned tense after a public clash between Justice Minister Norbert Mao and Speaker Anita Among, exposing early cracks in the battle for the 12th Parliament Speakership.
It all started with a statement… but ended in a political exchange when Anita Among, while addressing delegates, didn’t hold back. Using a now-viral metaphor, she made it clear that not everyone is welcome in the race:
“We cooperate with other political parties, but that doesn’t mean you come into my bedroom. You remain in the compound. The bedroom this time is the speakership.”
That line? Many saw it as a direct message to Mao, basically telling him to stay in his lane despite his cooperation deal with NRM.
The Democratic Party president fired back almost immediately, calling the remarks disrespectful and unnecessary:
“This is not just bad politics. It is bad manners!”
Then he flipped the same metaphor and made it even more personal.
“Only the head of the family decides who enters which room. When you insult your father’s visitors, you’ve insulted your father.”
In one statement, Mao positioned himself as a legitimate guest invited by President Museveni, while subtly portraying Among as overstepping her authority.
Mao reportedly went further, branding Among a “recently adopted child” in NRM and even a “political refugee,” escalating the situation from political disagreement to straight-up personal attack.
Among is defending her seat as Speaker and signaling that the position is strictly for core NRM insiders. Mao, on the other hand, is using his role as minister and the NRM-DP cooperation agreement to argue that he has every right to contest for any top position.
This is not just bad politics. It is bad manners! Only the head of the family has the final word on who can access which room in the home. He doesn’t need lectures from a recently adopted child! Above all, when you insult your father’s visitors you’ve insulted your father. https://t.co/e4DTczA6jE
— Norbert Mao (@norbertmao) April 9, 2026
