The government of Uganda is set to engage with the British High Commission in Uganda and the Government of the United Kingdom over sanctions Imposed against the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among and former ministers Mary Goreti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks forward to engaging with the British High Commission in Uganda and the Government of the United Kingdom, with whom we maintain cordial relations, on this matter while mindful that sovereignty remains a cardinal principle in the bilateral relations between two countries,” a letter by the John Malimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs/Regional Affairs read.
“The case referred to under the UK’s Global Anti Corruptions Sanctions regime concerning two former Ministers Hon. Mary Goretti Kitutu and Hon. Agnes Nandutu, represents the first time that it is applied with respect to Uganda,” Mulimba said.
Adding, “The third person mentioned in the Sanctions regime is Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among who is none other than the Right Honorable Speaker of Parliament of Uganda who has not been charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the above-mentioned cases. We therefore seek to find the rationale for actions taken by the British Government in this Sanctions designation.”
On the case of the two former ministers, Mulimba noted, “It glosses over the fact that the two cases mentioned had been uncovered by the government’s own investigative Agencies and are currently being handled under the Ugandan Courts of Law. The two on the charge sheet, therefore, remain under the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,”,” the minister said.
Early this week, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Ugandan politicians including the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, former Ministers Mary Gorreti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu for corruption and stealing iron sheets from the poorest of communities in Uganda.
The sanctions were announced by the Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell.
The three individuals will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.
The ministers were implicated in the stealing and diverting of thousands of iron sheets used for roofing and infrastructure from a Ugandan government-funded project aimed at housing some of the most vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region.
Anita Among who has been the subject of an online protest dubbed ‘#UgandaParliament Exhibition’ for opulence and abuse of Parliament’s resources, was sanctioned by the UK for engaging in corruption.
According to the UK, the Speaker of the Parliament, Anita Annet Among, benefited from the proceeds.
However, Among told plenary that she is carrying a cross for 48 million Ugandans because of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person and which are held in the UK. It will also prevent funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person or entity.
A travel ban means that the designated person is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, and must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom (any leave given to a person who is an excluded person is invalid).
Under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regulations 2021, individuals and entities anywhere in the world can be sanctioned for their involvement in bribery or misappropriation of property involving a foreign public official.
This could include those who facilitate, profit from or try to cover up serious corruption, as well as making efforts to prevent authorities from carrying out justice for these actions.
