Purely from a gender perspective, Hon. Anita Annet Among, is the best candidate to be elected Speaker to replace the late Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah now rested. This is because, with the late Oulanyah as Speaker, the three arms of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – were all headed by men. With her as Speaker, we revert back to gender inclusion of women at the top echelon of the leadership of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: Wikpedia

Since “independence”, from 1962 to date, a female Ugandan national has never been our head of state. The only female head of state that our republic has had is Queen Elizabeth II, who at the age of 39, served as our head of state for one year from 9th October 1962 to 9th October 1963. Which begs the question, did we really attain “independence” in 1962? Story for another post. Back to the point.

Since 1963, all the nine heads of state of our republic have been men. From Edward Mutesa ( for 2 years and 144 days from 9th October 1963 to 2nd March 1966) to Milton Obote I and Milton Obote II (a total of 9 years and 142 days) to Yusuf Lule (68 days) to Godfrey Binaisa (327 days) to Paulo Muwanga (10 days) to Bazilio Olara-Okello (2 days) to Tito Okello (181 days) to Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni (who reigns 36 years and counting). (Source: Wikipedia)

The ethnic identities of the heads of state of Uganda, so far, moreover, are of sub-regions other than that of Hon. Among. The largest number (4/9) have been Baganda, the small-central region, albeit serving only 3 years and 184 days combined. The small northern region (Acholi and Lango) has had three of its sons serve as heads of state, serving a combined 10 years and 4 days. West Nile has had one of its sons serve as head of state for a period of 8 years and 76 days. Our longest serving head of state, serving 36 years and counting, is the incumbent and is of the Banyankole from South-Western Region.

Hon. Among is of the Iteso of North-Eastern Region, a region from which non of its people have served in the position of head of state. The same is the case for the four sub-regions of Small Eastern, South-Central, East Central and Small Western. And so, since the current head of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, is of Small Northern region, Hon. Among as speaker brings both gender and regional balance to the top echelon of the leaders of the three arms of the government.