The investigations also reportedly focus on wealth that authorities believe may not correspond with Among’s known sources of income and official earnings.
The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has reportedly completed a preliminary report on former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, highlighting a number of issues related to asset declarations, parliamentary expenditure, recruitment practices and foreign travel that investigators believe require further scrutiny.
According to sources familiar with the investigations, the report was submitted to President Yoweri Museveni before the election of Jacob Oulanyah Oboth as Speaker of the 12th Parliament on May 25 and remains under review as authorities consider the next course of action.
The probe follows a security operation conducted at Among’s residence in Nakasero on May 16, which intensified public attention on allegations surrounding her wealth and conduct while serving as Speaker.
Sources say investigators examined Among’s asset declarations and are investigating whether some properties may have been omitted or underdeclared. Among the assets reportedly under review are a property in the United Kingdom, two farms in northern Uganda and the Walusimbi’s Garage property in Kampala.
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Under Uganda’s Leadership Code Act, public officials are required to declare their assets, income and liabilities. Failure to declare assets or providing inaccurate declarations may attract penalties ranging from fines to forfeiture of undeclared assets.
The investigations also reportedly focus on wealth that authorities believe may not correspond with Among’s known sources of income and official earnings.
Among was among several senior Ugandan officials sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the United States in 2024 over allegations of corruption and human rights abuses. At the time, British authorities linked her to a London property. Among denied owning property in the UK and dismissed the allegations, arguing that she was being targeted because of her role in passing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Sources further claim that investigators reviewed the recruitment of hundreds of parliamentary staff members, some of whom allegedly secured positions that were not publicly advertised. The probe is also said to be examining allegations that recruitment and financial processes were influenced outside established procedures.
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The report reportedly raises concerns about accountability for certain parliamentary expenditures, including funds allegedly withdrawn through staff accounts and expenditures classified under corporate social responsibility programmes.
Investigators are also said to have requested parliamentary records, including Hansard reports and travel-related documentation, as part of efforts to verify official activities undertaken during Among’s tenure.
One area under review involves changes to foreign travel allowances for senior parliamentary leaders. Sources claim investigators are examining how per diem allowances for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were increased and how those funds were utilised.
The probe has also reportedly focused on a series of foreign trips undertaken between September 2023 and January 2024. Investigators are examining whether all trips for which allowances were paid were actually undertaken and whether the expenditures complied with established procedures.
According to sources, several parliamentary officials have been questioned by investigators. They include senior officers from the finance, administration, transport, logistics and protocol departments.
Former Parliamentary Commissioner and Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga was also reportedly questioned in relation to the controversial sh1.7 billion service award paid to parliamentary commissioners in 2022.
The payments, which generated widespread public debate, were later challenged in court. However, in August 2024, the High Court ruled that the payments were lawful because they had been included in the national budget and approved by Parliament.
In the same ruling, Justice Douglas Singiza held that the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, bore responsibility for procedural failures associated with the payment process, noting that he had authority as accounting officer to reject irregular payments.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Nalule Batala were unsuccessful. Repeated calls to her known telephone contacts went unanswered.
IG spokesperson Ali Munira declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing nature of the investigations.
Among has not publicly addressed the latest allegations. However, her lawyer, Caleb Alaka, recently dismissed claims linked to the investigations, stating: “All those are lies.”
The Inspectorate of Government has not yet publicly released the contents of its report, and no formal charges have been announced against the former Speaker.
