By Spy Uganda
Kampala: United Kingdom has sanctioned the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Anita Among, and two high profile Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday for the first time with its sanctions regime.
Speaker Among, Mary Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, former ministers for Karamoja sub-region, will be subjected to travel bans and asset freezes under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime.
UK said Kitutu and Nandutu had stolen thousands of iron sheets from a government-funded housing project aimed at helping vulnerable communities in Karamoja while Among had benefited from the proceeds of the theft, London’s statement added.
“The UK 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,” Britain’s deputy foreign minister Andrew Mitchell said in a statement.
“The actions of these individuals, in taking aid from those who need it most, and keeping the proceeds, is corruption at its worst and has no place in society.” the statement added.
Both Kitutu and Nandutu have been charged with corruption in Uganda and their cases remain in the courts.
However, parliament spokesman, Chris Obore, said the allegations against the speaker were false as she has never been charged with corruption in any courts law.
”The statement claims the sanctions are due to charges purportedly faced by the Rt. Hon Speaker and two other Ministers in the Anti-Corruption Court, which is a false premise because the Rt. Hon Speaker has never been charged with corruption in any courts of law, contrary to the insinuation in the statement” Obore said in a statement.
Accordinbg to Obore, UK’s sanctions against the speaker are also linked to British anger over an anti-homosexuality law passed in Uganda.
”The iron sheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions which is the Rt. Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act. The truth is that the iron sheets were in fact distributed to public schools, and Mr Andrew Micthell who was vocal in condemning the Rt. Hon Speaker Among for enacting the Anti-Homosexuality Act – did not, in his statement, indicate how exactly the Rt. Hon Speaker derived personal benefit from them” he added.
Furthermore, Obore called upon foreigners including the United kingdom to stop meddling in Uganda’s politics.
”It is important that foreign partners, including the United Kingdom, respect the sovereignty of Uganda, and avoid the temptation to meddle into our local politics, including arm-twisting decision makers to align with their value system, especially on homosexuality” he noted.
Britain has sanctioned 42 individuals and entities under its anti-corruption regime since it was set up 2021, including from Russia, South Sudan and Venezuela.
