Did Anita Among Foresee Her Downfall Amidst Corruption Allegations and Political Turmoil?

The political career of Anita Among, the recently ousted Speaker of Parliament, has taken a dramatic turn, marked by security searches of her residences and her subsequent withdrawal from the race to retain her position. Analysts now question whether Ms. Among foresaw this “downfall” as events appear to have caught up with her.

Recent months have shown signs that Ms. Among’s tenure was becoming increasingly contentious, with controversies surrounding alleged corruption and misuse of power within Parliament. Her efforts to secure unopposed passage in party primaries and the general election for her Bukedea Woman MP seat, which saw opponents disqualified, raised public suspicion. Some believe this was an attempt to avoid a potentially shocking defeat and secure her parliamentary position before vying for the speakership.

During this period, Ms. Among was also observed making overtures to President Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, including making fervent public declarations of support. The political landscape shifted further during an NRM retreat where President Museveni indicated the speakership race was not settled, despite an earlier party endorsement of Ms. Among and her deputy. Reports also emerged of intelligence services allegedly disrupting campaign efforts, including the distribution of money to MPs.

Adding to the scrutiny, Ms. Among publicly denied presidential ambitions for 2031, instead pledging support for Gen. Kainerugaba. This was interpreted as an attempt to align with what was perceived as a new power center within the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), possibly influencing the speakership outcome.

Ms. Among’s name has been linked to several corruption allegations, including the infamous iron sheets scandal where she returned 500 sheets to the Office of the Prime Minister following an investigation. She was among numerous officials implicated, including ministers and other parliamentarians.

Furthermore, a social media campaign dubbed the “Parliament Exhibition” brought to light contentious issues, such as a substantial service award to former Opposition Leader Mathias Mpuuga. Ms. Among dismissed these as “social media talk,” but the allegations coincided with travel sanctions imposed by the US Department of State due to alleged “significant corruption” linked to her leadership. The UK also froze her assets abroad.

Despite her dismissal of the sanctions, these international measures, coupled with an Inspector General of Government probe into Parliament, signaled mounting pressure. In response, Ms. Among focused on bolstering her standing with the President and the NRM, commissioning a teaching hospital in Bukedea named after members of the First Family, and ensuring the passage of several government-backed bills.

Political analysts, including Sarah Bireete of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, argue that Ms. Among should have recognized the wrongfulness of her actions and the potential consequences. Yusuf Sserunkuma, another analyst, suggests that Ms. Among may have miscalculated President Museveni’s gratitude and that a shift in power dynamics, particularly with the PLU, may have rendered her services less valuable and her presence an embarrassment.

The article highlights Ms. Among’s meteoric rise from the opposition to the leadership of Parliament and questions whether the current actions against her are a genuine fight against corruption or a politically motivated purge.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)