By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Speaker Anita Among has dismissed calls for her resignation from young Ugandans who accuse her of corruption and abuse of office, labelling her critics as self-seekers wasting government resources and demonizing Parliament.
Among made the comments while addressing guests at the opening of the Shs2.7 billion St. Charles Lwanga Kigarama Church in Mitooma District on Sunday, June 28, 2024.
The church, funded by Deputy Speaker Tayebwa and his business associates, was inaugurated during a Thanksgiving event celebrating the 80th birthday of Tayebwa’s father, Daudi Bangirana.
In her speech, Among asked rhetorically, “Resign and go where? I still have one term to serve. When I finish, I will hand it over to my younger brother Thomas.” She defended Parliament against accusations of corruption, emphasizing that MPs are not accounting officers and that the alleged thefts do not originate in Parliament.
During the church service, Among dismissed the allegations and affirming her commitment to serve out her term noting that she will later hand over the position to Tayebwa. She lauded Tayebwa as a devoted Deputy Speaker and encouraged the people of Mitooma to re-elect him.
Among accused the protesters of undermining Uganda’s values and being motivated by self-seekers who aim to disrupt the Parliament’s harmonious relationship with the Executive.
“The government may make mistakes, but that does not justify marching and wasting resources,” she said. “The 11th Parliament decided to work with the President, and there is no longer any conflict between the Legislature and the Executive.”
Among dismissed rumours of infighting between her and Tayebwa, highlighting their 20-year-long political journey from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
After her speech, Among made a plea to President Museveni to protect Parliament from public criticism, assuring him of Parliament’s unwavering support.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa addressed the guests, defending the decision to construct the church at a cost of Shs2.7 billion. He revealed that most of the funds were raised from his friends in the business community, with Shs1.7 billion collected in a single meeting.
Tayebwa had initially planned the church as a tribute to his late grandmother, Katima Tiruhongyerwa Omurara Muntu wa Kagunga, who passed away at the age of 99 in March 2022. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from Speaker Among and other friends.
President Museveni, in his address, cautioned against the politics of identity, urging politicians to focus on solving people’s problems. He emphasized that the NRM’s mission is to address issues such as health, education, and infrastructure, rather than improve individual resumes.
Tayebwa’s father, Bangirana, thanked God for his long life, reflecting on his own father’s death at 35 and the responsibilities he took on at a young age.
Meanwhile, Lambert Bainomugisha, Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, urged Ugandans to emulate Deputy Speaker Tayebwa by using resources responsibly to build God’s kingdom. He emphasized the importance of frugality and gathering resources for the greater good.
