Kampala’s political corridors are suddenly hotter than a Saturday night in Kololo.
Just hours after the swearing-in activities for Uganda’s 12th Parliament kicked off, powerful camps inside the ruling establishment and opposition circles were already locked in intense behind-the-scenes maneuvering that has left political insiders talking nonstop.
The biggest conversation in town is not even the oath itself.
It is the silent war over who controls the next Parliament.
Reports from the parliamentary precinct indicate that newly sworn-in MPs arrived smiling for cameras, hugging allies and waving to supporters, but behind those smiles, serious lobbying has reportedly been taking place for influential committee positions and House leadership roles.
The atmosphere became even more charged after reports emerged that Speaker and Deputy Speaker elections are expected later this month, triggering a fresh wave of political calculations inside Kampala’s elite circles.
Supporters of President Yoweri Museveni have been celebrating the beginning of another political chapter following his swearing-in for a new term, but political analysts say the real battles are only starting now.
Even opposition figures are reportedly watching every move carefully.
Inside Parliament, whispers of “who is eating” and “who is being sidelined” have allegedly started surfacing among some legislators as alliances begin shifting faster than many expected.
One MP was overheard joking that “the campaign season never ended,” as politicians reportedly moved from election rallies straight into negotiations for influence and visibility in the House.
Meanwhile, social media has been buzzing after clips from the swearing-in events showed lawmakers arriving in flashy convoys, designer outfits and luxury rides, turning the parliamentary grounds into an unexpected political fashion parade.
Some younger MPs reportedly attracted attention with aggressive networking tactics, while senior politicians kept holding closed-door meetings away from cameras.
At the same time, debate is growing around controversial laws passed by the outgoing Parliament, with critics and supporters already preparing for heated confrontations in the new House.
Another major talking point shaking political circles is President Museveni’s fresh appointment of Moses Kazibwe Kawumi as Deputy Chief Justice, a move that immediately sparked heavy discussion among legal and political observers across Kampala.
While supporters described the appointments as strategic and timely, critics online quickly began questioning what the changes could mean for Uganda’s political direction in the coming years.
Still, government supporters insist the country is entering a fresh phase focused on stability, development and continuity.
Away from official speeches, however, Kampala gossip circles are obsessed with one thing: who is rising, who is falling, and which politicians are quietly positioning themselves for bigger power ahead of future political battles.
The tension is especially intense among first-time MPs trying to prove they belong in the high-stakes world of national politics.
And if the mood inside Parliament this week is anything to go by, Uganda’s new political season could come with plenty of drama, shifting alliances and unexpected surprises long before the next election cycle even begins.