The Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Anita Among is among the Ugandan politicians that have been placed under penalties from Uganda Kingdom for allegedly “stealing from the poorest communities in Uganda.”
The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime had never before been applied by the UK to anyone thought to be implicated in corruption in Uganda. According to Britain, the additional penalties are a part of their ongoing efforts to combat significant corruption worldwide.
Today, April 30 2024, the Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell announced sanctions on prominent Ugandan politicians accused of corruption as well as the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament.
Apparently the three people will face asset freezes and travel restrictions. Two of the people were previously ministers in charge of Karamoja which is the poorest region of Uganda. They are accused of corruption before the Anti-Corruption Court of Uganda.
Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, the two former ministers who were sanctioned, stole thousands of iron sheets used for infrastructure and roofing from a project funded by the Ugandan government that was intended to house some of the most vulnerable communities in the area.
Instead, they gave the sheets to well-known politicians and their families. The UK statement stated that Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of the Parliament also benefited from this scandal.
Iron sheets that were purchased for the needy in Karamoja ended up in the ownership of some ministers, according to information released by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit last year in what was a big scandal that rocked the country.
The Committee on Presidential Affairs of Parliament looked into the claims of an erroneous iron sheet distribution. Subsequently, Speaker Anita Among returned 500 iron sheets that she had received from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for the Karamoja sub-region’s disarmament initiative.
“I have always said I got a call that iron sheets have been brought; after further analysis and considering that iron sheets were made for Karamoja and not Bukedea, I have taken a personal decision as a leader to buy 500 iron sheets and give them back. I have sent my personal assistant to give back the iron sheets,” Among said in March 2023.
In Karamoja, more than 60% of the population is impoverished, and many more are negatively impacted by insecurity and drought. Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, stated: “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 Ugandan courts are rightly taking action to crack down on those politicians who seek to line their own pockets at their constituents’ expense. Today 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.”
The three individuals who have been sanctioned are; Anita Among, the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament since 2022; Mary Goretti Kitutu, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs from 2021 to 2024; and Agnes Nandutu, the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs from 2021 to 2024.
These measures are in accordance with previous UK sanctions under the Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime, which has targeted individuals involved in serious corruption cases worldwide, including Venezuela, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Moldova, Russia, South Africa, South Sudan, and Venezuela.
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Since the regime’s introduction in April 2021, the UK has imposed sanctions on 42 individuals and entities under this regime to combat corruption worldwide. Parliament through the director of communications Chris Obore has responded to this move by the UK.
According to Obore, the high ranking government officials are being targeted for passing the anti-homosexuality law. Besides, Uganda is no longer a British protectorate and they should know their limits according to Obore.
