In the wake of sanctions by the US and UK governments, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has sought solace from the Pope.
In a May, 27 response to the Clerk of Parliament, Uganda’s Ambassador to Germany, Stephen Mubiru has informed parliament of the acceptance of the request for audience from the Pope
“ His Holiness Pope Francis has granted a private audience to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Anita Among on Saturday morning August, 24, 2024,” the head of mission said.
The background
Last month, the UK government, in a first, invoked the Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime on Among as well as former minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu following their involvement in the Karamoja iron sheets theft scandal.
The UK government said these government officials stole from the vulnerable.
On Thursday, the US government too announced sanctions against the speaker, travel restrictions against her husband, Moses Magogo and Minister Amos Lugoloobi as well as former ministers Kitutu and Nandutu over the Karamoja iron sheet saga.
“All the four officials abused their public positions for their personal benefit at the expense of Ugandans. Today’s actions reaffirm the US commitment to support transparency in Uganda’s democratic processes, counter corruption globally, and address the broader culture of impunity that prevents all Ugandans from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
However, this website has learnt that earlier this year, the speaker through the Clerk to Parliament sought a private meeting with the Pope.
She then requested for visas at the Italian Embassy in Kampala for a delegation of over people who would travel with her but the embassy denied them visas.
However, the speaker made another attempt and this time, she went through Uganda’s embassy in Germany to help her secure a Schengen visa that would help her travel to Italy which is part of the Schengen area.
This came on the backdrop of a request for a private meeting with the Pontiff , which has since been granted.
“You are requested to send to this Mission the following before July, 15 2024. Address in Rome where the Rt. Hon. Speaker will be residing including a list of the accompanying delegation to the Papal Audience (maximum 3 people), personnel and their equipment for purposes of media accreditation,” the head of Uganda’s mission in Germany said in the response.
He said that as per Vatican Protocol, the speaker will be received by His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness immediately after the Papal audience.
