Uganda Releases Former Speaker Anita Among

Uganda’s former parliamentary speaker Anita Among has been released from house arrest after authorities dropped investigations into corruption allegations against her, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said.

Among was placed under house arrest in Kampala in May after a corruption probe led to searches of her offices and the confiscation of several luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce.

Kainerugaba said on Tuesday that President Yoweri Museveni, his father, had instructed him to release Among and end the investigation.

“We shall not prosecute AAA. She made mistakes but Mzee has decided to forgive her,” Kainerugaba said in a post on X, using Among’s initials and a traditional honorific for Museveni.

An AFP reporter saw security personnel outside Among’s home on Tuesday morning despite the announcement.

Uganda’s anti-corruption body said it had not officially stated that Among was under investigation. However, an organisation post from May said it had begun preliminary investigations into the former speaker.

An official, speaking anonymously, told AFP that the agency was no longer pursuing a case against Among.

Among became speaker of Uganda’s parliament in March 2022 but had faced corruption allegations for years. Britain and the United States previously imposed sanctions on her over alleged corruption.

The confiscation of her assets attracted widespread attention in Uganda, where about half the population lives on less than $3 a day.

Kainerugaba had previously said the proceeds from the sale of the confiscated Rolls-Royce would be returned to the state.

SOURCE: AFP