National Unity Platform president, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine has said he pushed for sanctions by the UK government against Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
“The UK sanctions are fruits of our efforts of engagement and that is why it was tweeted by the Speaker of the UK Parliament and a number of MPs, but indeed this followed our engagements the last time I was in the UK. But not only us, because there are so many Ugandans that are pushing for these sanctions from the UK, USA and many other development partners,”Kyagulanyi said.
He was addressing the media on Thursday in the wake of the sanctions against Speaker Among and former ministers, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu over the Karamoja iron sheets saga.
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 its sanctions, the UK government said it was targeting those who were stealing from the vulnerable.
“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,” said Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell.
However, responding to the sanction, Parliament said Among was being targeted for the August House’s passing of the anti gay law last year.
The iron sheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions which is the Rt. Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act,” Chris Obore, the director of communication at Parliament, said in the statement.
Speaking on Thursday, the NUP president dismissed these claims.
“Among and her apologists have tried to paint a picture that the UK sanctions are because she presided over the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Of course this is an ignorant lie because the reason was put there, Anita Among stole iron sheets meant for Karamoja and she accepted and returned them but because of impunity, nothing was done to her. The mover of that law is Hon Asuman Basalirwa, why is he not sanctioned?”
Passing of anti gay law to blame for Speaker Among UK sanctions, says Parliament
