Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has addressed allegations that she owns property in the United Kingdom. These claims surfaced after the UK embassy in Uganda reportedly shared details of a property, specifically Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, which they said was owned by Among.
In a letter dated May 23, 2024, President Yoweri Museveni wrote to Among seeking clarification. He stated, “I have got information that is contrary to what you told me … Do you own that house or are you renting it?” Museveni directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Inspectorate General of Government to investigate the matter.
In response, Among released a statement on her X (formerly Twitter) account on May 29, 2024. She expressed her gratitude to President Museveni for addressing the issue through formal diplomatic channels. Among stated, “While I had chosen not to respond to the pieces of malicious content and schemes thrown at me by various actors…I wish now to comment briefly on the issue of my alleged ownership of properties in the UK, which is now a subject of diplomatic engagement between our two countries.”
Among shared documents from the UK Register of Titles, which she claims show that the property is not registered in her name. She stated, “Since the UK government claims I own property, it should be prudent of them to state which property I own as Anita Annet Among. Forgery should be the least the world can expect from them. I am sure this is the answer my President, our government, and myself want from them. Nothing else.”
Among also provided details about the property in question. She explained, “The alleged house plot, Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom, which they informed the President is owned by myself, surely has an owner who is registered in their own system (the UK Government), and this owner, as per their own record, is not Anita Among.”
Among suggested that the allegations were part of a broader campaign against her due to her outspoken stance against homosexuality. She stated, “The real crux of the matter is about targeting Among for being vocal against homosexuality. The rest is a cover-up.”
The Speaker quoted the Bible, John 8:32: “The truth will set me free,” emphasizing her belief in her innocence.
An online search conducted on May 29, 2024, revealed that the property in question, Flat 4, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL (Leasehold), Title number: AGL532499, was registered to Places For People Homes Ltd, 80 Cheapside, London EC2V 6EE. It was last sold for £183,895 (approximately 893 million shillings).
Background
On May 11, 2024, President Museveni demanded that the UK government provide evidence that Among owned a house in their country. This followed a letter from the Inspectorate of Government indicating that Among had not declared ownership of any property in the UK. Museveni mentioned that he had spoken to Among, who denied owning any property in the UK. He insisted that the UK government could not falsely accuse any Ugandan official without consequence.
Museveni instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo and Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to immediately write to the relevant UK authorities to demand their source of information regarding the alleged property ownership. His letter followed another directive dated May 2, 2024, asking the ethics minister and the Inspector General to investigate the allegations.
Museveni criticized the UK government for imposing sanctions without substantial evidence. He questioned why the UK had included Among among those to be sanctioned, even though she had not been charged in court. He also requested that the Inspector General and the Minister of Integrity verify whether Among had declared any property in her leadership code documents and how she financed it if she did.
Sanctions
On April 30, 2024, the UK issued sanctions against Among and former ministers Kitutu and Nandutu for allegedly benefitting from Karamoja iron sheets meant for reformed warriors. Among was among several government officials who received iron sheet donations from the Office of the Prime Minister. However, she was never sanctioned or charged, as it emerged that she donated the iron sheets to government schools in Bukedea for classroom construction.
