Kampala, (UG):- President Museveni has asked the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Attorney General and the Ethics Minister to problem the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among over allegations that she owns properties in the United Kingdom (UK).
The British government on April 30, announced it had sanctioned the Speaker and two former ministers of Karamoja Affairs; Mary Goretti Kitutu, and Agnes Nandutu for corruption-related crimes over the mismanaged iron sheets meant for the restive mineral-rich Karamoja region. The sanctions consist of travel bans and asset freezes.
Upon learning of the sanctions against her, Hon Among told the country that her boss, President Museveni would, at an appropriate time address the matter, and insisted that the sanctions were not about corruption but her stand for the Anti-homosexuality law.
And now the President in a letter dated May 2, 2024, addressed to Hon Jeje Odongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, copied to the Speaker, the IGG, the Minister of State for Integrity, and the Attorney General revealed how he met with the British High Commissioner to Uganda at her request for an urgent meeting to discuss the sanctions against his political leaders.
“The meeting was at Nakasero but I was on my way to Entebbe for other meetings. I, therefore, did not have time to discuss with anybody the issue,” Mr Museveni said, adding that during the discussion, the British High Commissioner told him that they intended to sanction the Hons Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu for their roles in the iron sheets (mabaati) issue.
The President therefore asked the Attorney General to “explain the legality of the matter since this is a purely internal matter for Uganda.”
According to Mr Museveni, the alleged theft was discovered by our agencies and the Uganda courts are handed the case. “The accused are not yet convicted. How do other countries come into the matter? Attorney General advise,” he wondered.
“She (the High Commissioner) told me about sanctioning the Rt Hon Speaker Anita Among. I said, “Why?” She said that Anita Among has got a house or houses in the UK and has got bank accounts from which she pays school fees for her children who are studying there,” Museveni added in the two-page letter.
“I told her that the issue of houses would be very interesting if, especially, Anita Among did not declare them in her Leadership Code documents.”
According to President Museveni, if she had declared them then the next issue would be how she got the money to build them.
“If these two are answered correctly and showing no mistake, the remaining issue would be political, ideological judgement. Why would a Ugandan leader build or buy houses in the UK or anywhere else abroad, when Uganda, the still underdeveloped country where she would have earned the money, still needs these investments? It would definitely be a moral and ideological mistake.”
The President said that at the end of the meeting, he told the High Commissioner that the Uganda government would demand from the UK government more information about this.
“Attorney General and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise on how this can be done and the appropriate authority to go ahead and do it. Meanwhile, by the copies of this letter, I request the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and Minister of Integrity to inform me if the Rt Hon Anita Among declared in her forms of leadership code her owning of a house or houses in the UK.”
Museveni told Ms Airey that the issue of bank accounts may not be a serious issue if Among sent legitimately earned money to support the children, who are, legitimately studying there. “All concerned to note the contents of this letter and act where required,” he directed.
The President’s directive comes after the Speaker in her statement last week downplayed the sanctions, stating that she neither owns property in the UK nor desires to travel there. Ms Among emphasized her loyalty to Uganda and dismissed the accusations.
“I am told [that] I have so many assets in the UK and lots of accounts in the UK. Unfortunately, I have only been in the UK once. I don’t even have a pussycat in the UK. I have always said that I have a permanent passport to Bukedea and Buyende districts,” she said.
“I don’t need a visa to UK. So, honorable members, you need to be very firm and fight for your position. Just imagine it is your kid who is being sodomized. I have interacted [with some officials] and we have gotten to know what the sanctions are about,” she added.
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