Speaker Anita Among Blasts Uganda Government For Being Silent Amidst The Tough UK Sanction – Issues Bitter Warning

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Embattled Uganda’s speaker of parliament Anita Annet Among has slammed the government for its apparent silent response towards the United Kingdom’s sanctions against her over alleged corruption.

On Thursday this week, UK Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell in a statement said, Among who also doubles as Bukedea Woman MP, together with former Karamoja ministers; Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu will be subjected to travel bans and asset freezes following their involvement in the iron sheets (mabaati) theft scandal.

A number of top government officials including vice president Jessica Alupo, speaker Among and several ministers were fingered as having diverted, for personal gains, iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja sub-region. However the director of public prosecutions decided to pursue criminal charges against only three ministers; Agnes Nandutu, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Amos Lugoolobi citing a lack of evidence against the other suspects. In a recent cabinet reshuffle, President Yoweri Museveni dropped Nandutu and Kitutu as ministers.

During Friday’s plenary, Among wondered why it has taken the government more than 24 hours to issue a response regarding her sanctions, saying the matter shouldn’t be treated as an ‘attack’ on her as a person but an attack against Uganda’s sovereignty. She claimed she was being targeted for her pivotal role in the passing of the anti-homosexuality law in 2023 but is ready to carry the cross for the 44 million Ugandans.

However, a number of Ugandans have taken to social media, using the hashtag #NotMyCross and urged her to “carry her own cross” and stop citing the anti-gay law whenever accountability demands come up. Among said she’s not bothered by the sanctions since she “doesn’t even own a pussy cat in the UK”.She urged the UK to respect other countries’ values and cultures.

“We are a sovereign country and those who are writing reports, are writing reports because they want to do accountability,” she said.

On the cited iron sheets meant for Karamoja, Among earlier told parliament that they were dropped at her gate, and when she discovered that they were subject to the investigation; she refunded an equal number to the Prime Minister’s office. Among’s public image and appeal continue to wane rapidly among Ugandans as her tenure as speaker continues to be marred with several corruption scandals, some allegedly directly orchestrated by her or her agents.

In response to the UK sanctions, Chris Obore, director of communication and public affairs said the UK’s basis was premised on wrong information since Among has never been sued, let alone convicted of corruption in Uganda. Obore also wondered why only three individuals were targeted for sanctioning yet many other government officials were implicated.

Obore’s response has been criticised by a section of Ugandans as undiplomatic and unwarranted since the matter was now between countries and should be dealt with by Foreign Affairs.Among however said the reluctance of Foreign Affairs to respond is what forced “undiplomatic” people like Obore to issue statements.

“When you [Foreign Affairs] heard this [sanctions], you ought to have responded instantly. That is what we pay you for. To do the diplomacy before the undiplomatic people come, you should have done your diplomacy and then you come to this house and tell us this is what I have done. Now, you will get an undiplomatic person who will say maybe the person [Andrew Mitchell] who signed this document is himself a [homosexual],” said Among.

There appeared to be bipartisan support for Among as the debate on the matter continued. MPs said the ministry of Foreign Affairs has been sluggish in responding to the statement by Andrew Mitchell.

Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basaliwa said the sanctioning of the speaker of parliament is a matter that touches on the diplomatic relations between Uganda and the United Kingdom. He said it is important the ministry of Foreign Affairs addresses the matter. However, Basalirwa, who tabled the anti-homosexuality bill as a private member’s bill said the UK has the right to sanction any individual from any country.

“Rt Hon. speaker at the risk of anticipating what is in the statement, the UK has a right to sanction anybody. It is really their right and I don’t think anybody should be concerned or bothered. Let them sanction whoever they want. It is really their sovereign right but what should also happen is that they should respect the sovereign right of other countries because you see, you run a risk,” said Basalirwa.

But rising on a point of procedure, Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda wondered whether there was a need for a statement from the ministry of Foreign Affairs given that Among herself had stated that she was not bothered by the sanctions.

“In your communication, you said we have tax bills that are very important as you enumerated. And you did say that for you you don’t care if they want to freeze, you don’t even have a pussy cat, they can go ahead. If madam speaker that is your conclusion, is there and this is a procedural issue, is there a need for government to issue a statement when one of the persons sanctioned has said she doesn’t care, the matter is not serious? So is there a need for government to again issue a statement if you have closed the matter in that fashion?” said Ssemujju.

Among interjected warning that there is a possibility that all MPs would be sanctioned if something was not done.

“I may be sanctioned today, tomorrow it is going to be you. It is about your country not an Anita. Me, I can go back and be in my village,” said Among.

John Mulimba, minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs told parliament that the government was equally surprised to learn of the sanctions. He said the government seeks to find a rationale for actions taken by the British government in its sanction designation.

The case referred to under the UK’s Global and Corruption Sanctions regime concerning two former ministers; the honourable Goretti Kitutu and honourable Agnes Nandutu represents the first time that this is applied with respect to Uganda.

In sanctioning the legislators, the UK said it is sending a clear message to those who think benefiting at the expense of others is acceptable. “Corruption has consequences and you will be held responsible,” said the statement.

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