2 high-level meetings between top Ugandan officials and British diplomats in Kampala have failed to yield any information regarding the alleged property and bank accounts of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among in the United Kingdom. These allegations were the basis for the sanctions imposed on her, including a travel ban and asset freezes.
On April 30, the UK government invoked the Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime on Among, the Bukedea Woman MP, as well as two former Karamoja ministers—Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu—due to their involvement in the iron sheets (mabaati) theft scandal. The three were sanctioned alongside 42 other individuals from countries including Bulgaria, Kosovo, Colombia, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Israel, Lebanon, Honduras, Equatorial Guinea, and Guatemala.
The UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation stated, “Among, whilst Speaker of Parliament of Uganda and Member of Parliament for Bukedea District, is or has been responsible for or engaged in serious corruption.”
In response, Speaker Among described the sanctions as “politically motivated” due to her stance on homosexuality, particularly the Anti-Homosexuality law, and vowed not to back down.
Following President Museveni’s May 11 directive to Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo to engage UK authorities on the matter, there have been ongoing discussions.
Museveni noted, “I have received a letter from Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, Deputy Inspector General of Government, of May 9, 2024, informing me that the Rt Hon Anita Annet Among never revealed that she had a house in the United Kingdom. Rt Hon Anita Among has told me that she does not own a house or houses in the UK.” He instructed Minister Odongo to demand the source of the UK’s information, asserting, “They cannot falsely accuse any of our people and we just let it pass.”
Last week, Minister Odongo convened a closed-door meeting with Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and the British High Commissioner Kate Airey. According to diplomatic sources, Airey was asked to present evidence supporting the sanctions on Uganda’s third most important citizen by the National Order of Precedence, but she declined. The meeting ended without resolution, although both sides agreed “to de-escalate” the sanctions conversation. Mr. Vincent Bagiire, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed the meeting and stated that another meeting is scheduled for this Friday.
“For now, no evidence has been provided. But we continue to engage,” Bagiire said.
Diplomatic sources suggest it is “highly unlikely” the UK government will reveal any evidence to Ugandan authorities or reverse the decision to sanction Among. Consequently, the Speaker will likely remain entangled in unilateral coercive measures—economic sanctions taken by one state to compel a policy change in another. The British High Commission in Kampala referred all media inquiries to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.
The UN defines unilateral coercive measures as economic sanctions, including trade embargoes and financial flow interruptions, employed by states to compel policy changes in other states. These measures are often used by Washington, the EU, and the UK in response to human rights violations, governance deficits, and economic crimes. Developing and poor countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America are frequently affected. Typically, when sanctioned by one power, others follow suit.
In a meeting on May 10 between President Museveni and US Ambassador William Popp at State House, Entebbe, the sanctions on Among were briefly discussed. Museveni inquired whether Among was also on Washington’s blacklist, but US diplomats did not provide a direct response. Ellen Masi, US embassy public affairs counsellor, stated, “We do not have any announcements about sanctions at this time.”
Among was implicated in a social media exhibition of alleged corruption in Parliament, involving iron sheets bought for the Karamoja sub-region. She denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged by local courts.
