Another Victory for Thomas Tayebwa Family as Mother-in-law Wins District Speaker Race

The family of Thomas Tayebwa has registered another political victory after his mother-in-law, Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagizi, was re-elected Speaker of Kabale District in a closely contested local government race, further strengthening the family’s influence in the region.

Contesting under the banner of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Kanagizi secured 21 votes to defeat independent challenger Baker Turyamureba, who polled 14. The result underscored the ruling party’s continued grip on local leadership structures in the area.

The vote, conducted at the district council chambers, was overseen by a chief magistrate who also presided over the swearing-in of councillors and other officials, marking the formal start of a new council term.

Shortly after her re-election, Kanagizi took charge of proceedings and guided the council through the election of Tom Ahimbisibwe as Deputy Speaker, completing the top leadership lineup of the district legislature.

In her post-election address, she struck a conciliatory tone, thanking councillors for renewing her mandate while acknowledging past challenges. She called for cohesion among leaders, urging them to prioritise collective action in tackling the district’s development needs.

The council session also moved swiftly to constitute sectoral committees and appoint officials responsible for key portfolios such as finance, health and infrastructure, signalling an early focus on governance and service delivery.

District leaders used the occasion to outline priority areas for the new term, including strengthening the education sector through support for examinations and teacher capacity building, as well as reinforcing anti-corruption measures.

In a related development that has further elevated the family’s public profile, Anita Rukundo Tayebwa, wife of Thomas Tayebwa, was recently appointed Honorary Consul—often loosely referred to as an ambassador—of The Bahamas in Uganda.

The appointment places her in a diplomatic role aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and promoting cooperation between the two countries.

The announcement was made by Bahamian diplomat Jerusa Léa Ali, who noted that the two first met during the G77 and Non-Aligned Movement summits hosted by Uganda in 2024.

The position of honorary consul typically involves advancing trade, tourism and cultural relations, while also representing the interests of the appointing country.

Her appointment has drawn mixed reactions in public discourse, with some praising it as a sign of growing international engagement, while others have questioned the optics given her proximity to political power.

Nonetheless, it adds another dimension to the Tayebwa family’s expanding presence across both political and diplomatic spheres.

Meanwhile, in a more significant win, first son, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), and senior presidential advisor on special operations Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, made a notable U-turn in the race for Deputy Speaker, shifting his position to back Thomas Tayebwa despite earlier signalling support for a female Member of Parliament.

Just days before his endorsement, Muhoozi had publicly indicated that he preferred a woman to take up the Deputy Speaker role, a stance that had sparked debate within political circles and among ruling party supporters about possible candidates.

However, his position changed abruptly a day after Anita Among was forced to withdraw from the Speaker race, a development that significantly altered the political landscape and alliances within the ruling establishment.

Muhoozi’s endorsement of Tayebwa was framed as being in line with guidance from higher authority, signalling a consolidation of support within key power centres and effectively boosting Tayebwa’s standing in the contest.

The shift has been interpreted by observers as part of broader political realignments within the National Resistance Movement, with Tayebwa emerging as a central figure in the evolving leadership dynamics both within Parliament and the ruling party.

See related reporting Here, There and Over There.