The speaker of Parliament Anita Among has responded to the recent sanctions by the United Kingdom (UK), saying they politically motivated and informed by the anti-homosexuality bill.
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.
“The UK sanctions are politically motivated. I’m carrying a cross for 48 million Ugandans because of Anti-Homosexuality Bill. This may not be the only ban. Others will come in the pretext of corruption but we serve a living God. We will not allow ‘bum-shafters’ in Uganda,” she said.
She revealed that at an appropriate time, the Head of State (President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni) will also respond to the sanctions because they are an indictment on the parliament of Uganda.
Among added, “I’m told I have so many assets and accounts in the UK. Unfortunately, I have only been in UK once. I don’t even have a pussycat in the UK, I’m not worried. If they feel that I have property, go ahead and freeze, and see if I will complain. Even a pussycat, freeze it.”
She reiterated that she needs no visa to visit her home district Bukedea and called for firmness from fellow legislators.
“I have always said that I have a permanent passport to Bukedea and Buyende district. I don’t need a visa. 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,” Among said.
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.
