The continued political survival of Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa while powerful figures around Parliament face mounting pressure has sparked heated debate across Uganda. Many Ugandans are now asking one question: why did President Yoweri Museveni’s political axe appear to strike Anita Among while sparing Tayebwa?
The debate intensified after corruption investigations, allegations of illicit enrichment, and political turmoil engulfed Parliament, placing Speaker Anita Among at the center of national controversy. Yet amid the storm, Tayebwa has remained remarkably untouched.
Political observers say the contrast between the two leaders has become impossible to ignore. While Among has faced growing scrutiny, frozen accounts, and reports of security pressure, Tayebwa has quietly maintained his position and even gained more political favor.
For many Ugandans, the situation has revived an old political argument—that leaders from western Uganda receive special protection within Museveni’s government. Tayebwa, who hails from western Uganda, has now become the latest figure at the center of that debate.
However, analysts argue that regional identity alone cannot explain his survival. Uganda’s political history is filled with powerful western Ugandan figures who eventually fell out with Museveni despite once being untouchable.
Opposition veteran Dr. Kizza Besigye, once Museveni’s closest ally, later became one of the President’s fiercest opponents and repeatedly faced arrest and political restrictions. Former police boss Kale Kayihura also suffered a dramatic downfall after years of influence within the security establishment.
Former Security Minister Henry Tumukunde and ex-spymaster David Sejusa similarly experienced political isolation despite their western roots. These examples, analysts say, prove that Museveni rarely tolerates anyone he perceives as politically ambitious or capable of building an independent power base.
That is where Thomas Tayebwa appears different. Unlike many politicians who openly engage in succession politics or factional battles, Tayebwa has carefully projected himself as loyal, disciplined, and focused mainly on parliamentary administration.
Throughout the turbulence surrounding Parliament, Tayebwa avoided making inflammatory public statements. He remained cautious and calculated, rarely appearing to challenge the established power structure.
Veteran journalist and political analyst Timothy Kalyegira believes that this cautious approach is exactly why Tayebwa survived politically. According to Kalyegira, Museveni is less concerned about regional identity and more focused on political ambition.
“Why has Tayebwa survived? Is it because he’s from the West?” Kalyegira asked publicly. He quickly answered his own question by pointing to western Ugandan figures like Besigye, Kayihura, Tinyefuza, and Tumukunde who were previously sidelined despite their origins.
“Tayebwa survived because he shows no ambition beyond Speaker or Deputy,” Kalyegira argued, suggesting that Museveni only becomes hostile when he detects independent presidential ambitions.
The situation became even more interesting after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly announced that the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) had withdrawn support for both Anita Among and Thomas Tayebwa ahead of the 12th Parliament leadership race.
However, while Muhoozi maintained pressure on Among, his tone toward Tayebwa was noticeably softer. He openly described Tayebwa as “a good man” and promised that he would be protected.
At one point, Muhoozi declared that Tayebwa would be replaced by a female deputy speaker in the next Parliament. But in a surprising shift, he later reversed his position and announced that the “Mitooma boy” would remain.
That sudden change fueled further speculation about Tayebwa’s standing within Uganda’s power circles. Many now believe he enjoys quiet backing from influential figures both within State House and the military establishment.
Meanwhile, Anita Among’s troubles continued escalating. Reports emerged alleging that guns from Israel had been discovered at her residences, while claims also surfaced that her bank accounts had been frozen as investigations intensified.
As Among struggled politically, Tayebwa and his family appeared to enjoy growing fortunes. His wife reportedly secured a diplomatic appointment, while his mother-in-law won a district speaker election, developments many interpreted as signs of continued political favor.
Political analysts now say Tayebwa’s greatest strength may be his ability to appear useful without appearing dangerous. In Uganda’s political system, surviving often depends not on popularity or regional identity, but on convincing the top leadership that you pose no threat.
For now, Thomas Tayebwa remains standing while many around him fall. Whether that survival is due to loyalty, careful political discipline, or strategic restraint remains a subject of fierce national debate.
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