Speaker of Parliament Anita Among is facing an uncertain future. On April 30, Speaker Among chaired a plenary session at Parliament amidst growing tensions due to recent sanctions imposed on her by the United Kingdom for alleged corruption. This has escalated tensions between her and President Yoweri Museveni.
Initially, President Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) planned for Jacob Oulanyah to serve as House Speaker for this term and perhaps the next. Oulanyah had hoped to challenge Rebecca Kadaga for the speakership after the 2016 General Election, but Museveni advised him to wait. After the 2021 General Election, Oulanyah became Speaker, but his tenure was cut short due to his death in the United States where he was undergoing cancer treatment.
Following Oulanyah’s death, Museveni did not have a clear successor in mind. Some within the establishment supported Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the West Budama lawmaker, who was later appointed junior Defence minister. As Museveni’s camp was still strategizing Oboth-Oboth’s campaign, Anita Among, who had been serving as deputy Speaker, started her campaign for the speakership.
Among, who had won the position of deputy Speaker by defeating Yusuf Nsibambi and Muhammad Nsereko, had always aimed to become the Speaker. She made it clear, saying, “I want to ask the women leaders not to be intimidated by those who want to bring them down. Please stand firm and I can assure you that I am here for 10 years as deputy speaker and 10 as Speaker.”
The sudden death of Oulanyah and the lack of preparation for Oboth-Oboth’s campaign expedited Among’s plans. One of Oboth-Oboth’s strategists, who preferred to remain anonymous, mentioned that there was no time to push for Oboth-Oboth’s speakership as Among had already campaigned for deputy speakership.
President Museveni reportedly was not very supportive of Among’s speakership. However, due to his significant role in Oulanyah’s previous bid against Kadaga, he did not want to get involved in another battle. Consequently, Among became the Speaker, maneuvering through various challenges with Museveni’s support, although their relationship now seems strained following the UK’s sanctions against her.
The UK sanctions were announced by Britain’s deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell, who stated that corruption has consequences and those responsible will be held accountable. The sanctions against Among, Mary Goretti Kitutu, and Agness Nandutu included travel bans and asset freezes. UK citizens and businesses are forbidden from dealing with the assets of the sanctioned individuals.
Among responded by suggesting that she was being targeted due to her role in passing the Anti-Homosexuality Act. She said, “I’m carrying a cross for 48 million Ugandans because of the Anti-Homosexuality Act we passed in 2023.”
She also dismissed the relevance of the sanctions, claiming she had no property in the UK. She sarcastically added, “I don’t have any properties in the UK, not even a pussycat. Go ahead and freeze them, and see if I will complain.”
Among also criticized Uganda’s Foreign Affairs ministry for not responding to the sanctions and expected a strong response from President Museveni. However, Museveni revealed that contrary to her claims, Among owns houses and bank accounts in the UK, using these to pay school fees for her dependents in UK-based schools.
Museveni questioned why a Ugandan leader would invest abroad instead of in Uganda, an underdeveloped country that needs those investments. He emphasized the importance of whether Among had disclosed this wealth to the government ombudsman through the Leadership Code Act.
Museveni’s letter marked a significant change in their relationship. Among has been known as a go-getter who forges personal relationships to achieve her goals. She had previously managed to gain Museveni’s favor, with him visiting her constituency to launch projects. At 50, Among has become a fervent defender of NRM positions, having been part of the Opposition with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) until 2016.
Despite her strong NRM ties, Among’s political journey has been marked by controversies and conflicts. Her involvement in political wrangling within the NRM, especially in the Teso Sub-region, has often put her at odds with other NRM politicians, including Vice President Jessica Alupo.
The relationship between Among and Museveni first showed cracks during the violence-laden Bukedea LC5 by-election. Museveni ordered an investigation into the election, which saw claims of government officials interfering with the process. Among was implicated indirectly through the deployment of parliamentary police.
Among’s political future remains uncertain as Museveni’s stance on her alleged corruption and UK sanctions could lead to further investigations and potential consequences. The unfolding political drama continues to put Speaker Anita Among in a challenging position.
