Museveni full of praises for Among amid sanctions; blasts ‘traitors’ working with foreign agents

Kampala, (UG):- President Museveni was full of praises for Speaker Anita Among on Thursday, hailing her for “working harmoniously with the executive” over the past years of this term.

The President further said he was impressed by the Speaker’s performance amidst allegations of gross corruption against the House she presides over and several sanctions hanging around her neck over alleged theft and misuse of public funds.

“I want to salute the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the MPs. In the past, there was a risky and shallow tendency by some actors who tried to use Parliament to undermine the Ugandan revolution. This was a miscalculation that was provocative, but we managed to handle it peacefully,” Mr Museveni said during the State of the Nation address in Kololo on Thursday afternoon.

he added; “I am told some of the foreigners are saying that Anita Among is not a good Speaker because she does not undermine the Executive. That is a risky miscalculation.”

Mr Museveni’s praises on Ms Among come at a time when the Speaker is facing a storm over the award of almost Shs 2bn to Commissioners of Parliament in service awards. The huge expenditure of Parliament on activities run by the Speaker has also enraged the public.

However, Among has continuously maintained the expenditure of Parliament is always in line with approved budgets.

The U.S. and UK governments recently slapped sanctions on Among and her hubby, Eng Moses Magoogo.

Ms Among is her speech earlier in the day said the “call for leadership comes with the risk of being misunderstood, criticized, opposed, accused, sanctioned, or even rejected.”

The Speaker, who recently spearheaded the passing of the Anti-homosexuality law amid intense pressure from developing countries, said leaders “owe it to society to stand firm, and the good Lord will always be with us.”

Museveni also disclosed that during the budgeting process for the year 2024/25, Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa worked closely with the heads of the executive and judiciary to harmonise their budgets.

He also slammed what he described as “foreign agents” and “traitors” who serve the interests of foreign countries. “There are, however, other actors, that get bribes from foreigners to work for foreign interests. These are both corrupt and traitors and we are monitoring their activities,” said Museveni.

“If they do not stop; and with evidence, we shall deal with them,” he added.

“They approach our people and say, ‘Go and make a bad report against Uganda and we shall give you an award and it will have much money,” said Museveni.

“I wish you good luck with the money of betrayal. We are following up. Those two – the dishonest people and traitors are the ones we are targeting. Mistake makers, we can show them how to do things.”