The Ugandan government has broken its silence on the sanctions issued against Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among by the UK government.
The UK government earlier this week announced sanctions against trio over their involvement in the iron sheets scandal.
The said iron sheets had been bought using part of the shs39.9billion supplementary budget which was meant for disarmament and community empowerment program in Karamoja but were shared amongst government officials, including ministers.
In a statement on Friday, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba said they are surprised by the sanctions against the speaker and the two former ministers.
“It is with surprise, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda learnt, of a statement issued on the official website of the United Kingdom Government on 30th April 2024, announcing the imposition of sanctions on ‘Ugandan politicians charged with corruption,” Mulimba said.
He explained the case referred to under the UK’s Global Anti Corruptions Sanctions regime concerning two former ministers , Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, represents the first time that it is applied with respect to Uganda.
“It glosses over the fact that the two cases mentioned had been uncovered by the government’s own investigative agencies and are currently being handled under the Ugandan Courts of Law. The two on the charge sheet, therefore, remain under the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.”
While in its statement, the UK government said in its sanctions, it was targeting those who were stealing from the vulnerable, Uganda says that the sanctions against Speaker Among are surprising to everyone.
The third person mentioned in the sanctions regime is Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among who is none other than the Right Honorable Speaker of Parliament of Uganda who has not been charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the above-mentioned cases. We therefore seek to find the rationale for actions taken by the British government in this sanctions designation.”
Minister Mulimba however said the Ugandan government will engage with the British High Commission in Uganda and the UK government on the matter.
