Kampala—Former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has been appointed an ordinary member of Parliament’s Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation, which will be chaired by Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.
The committee appointments were announced on Tuesday by Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng as Parliament constituted its sectoral and accountability committees for the 12th Parliament.
The appointment places Ms Among, who until earlier this year served as Speaker of Parliament, on a committee chaired by one of her long-time political critics from the Opposition.
Speaking after the appointments, Mr Zaake welcomed the former Speaker to the committee and urged her to actively participate in its work.
“What I learned today is that life comes full circle. It is ironic that the person who used to make my life difficult in Parliament when she was Speaker is now serving under me on my committee,” Mr Zaake said.
He added: “I welcome her to work. The Committee on Government Assurances is not about fighting. It is about ensuring that government fulfils the promises it makes to Ugandans.”
Mukono Municipality Woman MP Betty Nambooze said the appointments illustrated the changing nature of public office, noting that all legislators are ultimately accountable to Parliament’s committee system regardless of the positions they previously held.
The Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation is one of Parliament’s key accountability committees. It is mandated to monitor commitments made by the Executive, scrutinise assurances given by ministers and government agencies, and follow up on their implementation.
Long-standing rivalry
The committee appointments come against the backdrop of a long-running political rivalry between Ms Among and Mr Zaake.
Their differences date back to the September 2017 debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, popularly known as the “Togikwatako” Bill, which sought to remove the presidential age limit.
The debate was disrupted by chaotic scenes after Opposition MPs attempted to block proceedings, leading to the forceful removal of legislators from the chamber by security personnel. Mr Zaake was among those injured during the incident.
The relationship between the two deteriorated further during Ms Among’s tenure as Speaker, with Mr Zaake repeatedly accusing the parliamentary leadership of failing to protect Opposition legislators during confrontations in the House.
In March 2022, Parliament voted by secret ballot to remove Mr Zaake from the Parliamentary Commission following recommendations by the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline over comments he had made on social media concerning Ms Among.
However, in September 2023, the Constitutional Court nullified the resolution, ruling that Parliament did not have the required quorum when it voted to remove him.
The dispute resurfaced in March 2024 after the National Unity Platform nominated Mr Zaake to replace Mathias Mpuuga as Parliamentary Commissioner following the controversy surrounding service award payments. Ms Among declined to effect the party’s request, maintaining that Parliamentary Commissioners are elected by Parliament and cannot be replaced solely through a political party decision.
With the latest committee appointments, Ms Among will now serve as an ordinary member on a committee chaired by Mr Zaake, marking a significant shift in parliamentary roles following the transition to the 12th Parliament.