Zaake: I will teach Among real leadership

Just two years ago, Francis Zaake and Anita Annet Among stood on opposite sides of one of Parliament’s most bitter power struggles.

As Speaker, Among presided over the process that removed the outspoken Mityana Municipality legislator from the Parliamentary Commission, a decision Zaake has long argued was politically motivated.

Today, the balance of power has shifted. Zaake now chairs Parliament’s Committee on Government Assurance and Implementation, and Among is one of its members. Rather than promising revenge, however, Zaake says he intends to offer something different.

He says he will welcome the former Speaker, lead by the rules she helped shape and, in his words, show her “how leadership is supposed to be exercised.”

For Zaake, the moment is about more than personal vindication. It is, he says, a reminder that in politics, today’s leader can become tomorrow’s subordinate, and that humility should outlast power.

It’s been some time since we last spoke. How have you been?

Yes, it’s been a while. I’m doing fairly well, despite the many challenges that come with the struggle. But I’m still standing.

How is your family?

They’re doing well, thank you.

What is your assessment of the 2026 election? Many opposition MPs in your region did not return to Parliament.

I wouldn’t describe it as a credible election. The process was deeply flawed. Many people assume that once a winner is declared, everything must have gone well, but that wasn’t the case.

The election was marked by violence and widespread irregularities. In Mityana, in particular, a lot happened. We witnessed numerous arrests, many people were injured, and, before the results were declared, there was at least one death.

A body was left on a pickup truck by the roadside, and, to my knowledge, that death has never been accounted for. You also saw the biometric voting machines fail in many places, and many people were unable to vote.

A great deal went wrong in my constituency, and I believe similar problems occurred in other parts of the country.

How did you manage to pull through?

I survived because of the people who stood by me. They didn’t just vote for me; they campaigned alongside me and, most importantly, stood their ground and protested until my victory was declared. That’s how I made it through.

In Parliament, your party appointed you as the chairperson of the committee on Government Assurance and Implementation. What do you make of the appointment?

“First, I’m very grateful to my party. It is because of the party that Parliament endorsed me, and I’m grateful to our president for entrusting me with this responsibility.

That trust gives me the opportunity to hold the government accountable for the promises it has made to the people of Uganda, especially on the floor of Parliament. I’m pleased to have been given a platform to push for those promises to be fulfilled.

Winning the position is important, but what matters even more is using it to advocate for the many things Ugandans have been promised but are yet to receive under this regime. We see these positions as a platform to advance the struggle.

As you’ve seen in Parliament, I use every available avenue, including robust debate and other lawful means, to ensure our voices are heard. That is how I intend to use this role, to help ensure Ugandans see that the struggle is making meaningful progress.”

Is there one promise you’re prepared to make—one you’ll be determined to keep?

“Yes, there are many. Most importantly, we have to start with current affairs. People are demanding accountability for what happened during the elections, and that must be addressed.

I’ve heard the chairperson of the Electoral Commission say that we must kneel before him for him to upload all the Declaration of Results (DR) forms. No, that’s not how it works.

The law is clear: he is required to upload them. I will ensure that this matter is raised on the floor of Parliament, referred to the relevant committee and followed up accordingly. There are many other pressing issues as well, including the poor state of our roads.

If you ask Ugandans about roads that were promised, budgeted for but never constructed or completed, they will give you countless examples, including in my constituency and many other parts of the country.

Of course, this is not something I can do alone as chairperson of the committee. It is the responsibility of the entire committee. The challenge, however, is that the opposition has only two members on it.”

Only two members of the opposition?

The other members are all from the NRM. The only opposition members are my deputy, Ann Ebaju Adeke of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and me. She is highly capable and very articulate, and I’m looking forward to working with her.

We have built a strong working relationship over the years, and this will be our third term serving together in Parliament.

How do you hope to achieve anything in that committee when most of its members are from the ruling party?

I wouldn’t describe them as hostile. Most of the members are new, and we are yet to hold our inaugural meeting. In fact, we haven’t even secured a committee room yet.

Of course, some people may expect them to frustrate my efforts, but I’m not easily discouraged. I’ll do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.

The last time you were chosen to lead in Parliament, you didn’t even complete a year in office. Do you worry that the same could happen this time?

Fear has never guided my decisions. I simply do what I believe is right and stand my ground. Whatever happens, happens. I believe I was born for a purpose.

By now, I could easily have been dead, but I’m still here because God has a role for me to fulfil. So, whatever comes my way, I will continue doing what I believe is right. I intend to work with everyone.

This committee is one of the most influential in Parliament because its work shapes the agenda of many other committees. It has a proud history. Odonga Otto was the first chairperson to give it a strong public profile.

He was young and energetic, and I believe we can build on that legacy. I’m also pleased that a former Speaker is now a member of the committee. Whatever may have happened between us in the past, I warmly welcome her to this important committee, which I now have the privilege to chair.

Is that really from the heart, Honourable, or are you just saying it?

It comes not just from the heart, but from every part of me. I sincerely welcome her. As leaders, we don’t always learn from the experiences of others. This is a powerful reminder that life is never static.

Circumstances change, and so do positions. When she attends the committee, I will welcome her warmly.

Do you think she will attend?

The rules require her to. As Speaker, she presided over the House that adopted those rules, so she has an obligation to attend both plenary sittings and committee meetings. I will ensure those rules are respected.

What will you do to ensure she attends?

As chairperson, I will speak to her and encourage her to attend the committee. I also assure her that I will follow the rules and lead differently. I want to demonstrate the kind of leadership I believe Parliament deserves.

In the past, she used the rules to remove me from the Parliamentary Commission. I will not do the same. But she knows the rules, and I don’t believe she would choose to disregard them.

Do you think the NRM assigned her to a committee you chair to spite her?

It honestly caught me by surprise. I didn’t see it coming. But I think it offers an important lesson for all leaders: be humble. Treat people fairly because circumstances can change.

The person you lead today may one day lead you. Someone who is your subordinate today could become your superior tomorrow. That’s why humility and respect should always guide leadership.

In the 11th Parliament, some women MPs threatened to beat and undress you. Have you reconciled with them?

(In 2023, tempers flared in Parliament after a video was played appearing to show Zaake insulting Rakai Woman MP Juliet Kinyamatama.)

I don’t believe they were justified. Their actions were violent towards me. I’ve never been violent towards anyone, yet I’ve often been on the receiving end of violence. Despite that, I believe I’ve always emerged stronger.

In the end, I’ve prevailed because I have stood by what I believe is right. When you stand by the truth, time eventually vindicates you. I’ve often been portrayed to the public as unreasonable, reckless or a bad person, but I believe my actions have always been guided by principles and values.

Looking back, I think it has become clear that, in my disagreements with the former Speaker, I was the one who was right.

What kind of Zaake should Ugandans expect in the 12th Parliament?

Zaake doesn’t change. I’ll remain the same person I’ve always been. I’ll continue to stand my ground whenever necessary and conduct myself as I always have. If anyone wants to attack me, that’s their choice, but I won’t be silenced.

I will defend myself within the law. Most importantly, I want to advance the struggle. Our goal is to ensure that Ugandans ultimately emerge as the winners. We must continue to raise our voices and speak out on the issues that matter. We will not grow tired of doing that.

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