Ugandan Parliament Rejects UK Sanctions on Speaker, Citing Sovereignty and Unfounded Allegations

In a defiant response to the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom on Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anitah Anita Among, the Ugandan Parliament has issued a statement challenging the legitimacy of the measures and defending the integrity of its leader.

The sanctions, announced by Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell, targeted high-profile Ugandan politicians allegedly involved in embezzlement schemes, including the Speaker.

Former ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu were among those implicated in the misappropriation of iron sheets earmarked for crucial infrastructure projects aimed at supporting vulnerable communities.

However, the Ugandan Parliament, spokesperson Chris Obore, swiftly denounced the sanctions as unjust and baseless. Obore emphasized that Speaker Among has never faced formal charges in court related to corruption allegations, thereby questioning the grounds upon which the UK sanctions were imposed.

Obore’s statement pointed to what it perceives as the underlying motive behind the UK’s punitive measures. He highlighted the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality law by Speaker Among last year, which drew vehement opposition from Western nations, including the United Kingdom.

The legislation, which tightened penalties for homosexual acts, drew western condemnation.

“The timing of these sanctions, coming shortly after the enactment of legislation that upholds our national values and sovereignty, raises serious questions about the intentions behind such punitive actions,” Obore asserted.