In a situation of adding insult to an injury, United Arab Emirates has joined the list of countries to have slapped sanctions against Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
The Central Bank of UAE has picked from where the UK left and instructed that no financial institution should deal with Among, together with the two former ministers, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
According to the directive, any properties held in the country by the trio should be frozen.
“All licensed financial institutions must screen databases and transactions against the lists of sanctioned persons,” the Emirates central bank says.
“When a “confirmed” or a “potential” match is found through the screening process, the institution must immediately, without delay and without prior notice, freeze or suspend all funds or transactions.”
The development comes barely a month after the UK government imposed sanctions against the trio over their roles in the Karamoja iron sheet saga.
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 sanctions, Among insisted that they are scapegoating her for Parliament’s passing of the Anti-Homosexuality law.
She however said she doesn’t regret the same.
“These sanctions are politically-motivated. I am carrying a cross for the 48 million Ugandans because of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill we passed in this House.This may not be the only ban. Another one will come in the pretext of corruption and [many] others but we serve a living God. We will always not allow b** shafters in Uganda,” Among said.
