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Kampala, (UG):- President Museveni has asked the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among to explain whether she owns a house in the United Kingdom or she’s renting after latest evidence proved him otherwise on what the Speaker initially told him.
In a letter dated May 23, Mr Museveni demanded the Speaker to detail about the alleged ownership of a house located along Waterden Road in London, UK, which is said to be one of her properties in the British territory.
“I have got information that is contrary to what you told me, that you, indeed, own a house in London in the form of Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom. Do you own that house or are you renting it?,” Mr Museveni said in the letter which became public on Wednesday evening.
“By copies of this letter, I direct the Minister of Foreign Affairs to contact the UK Government and get details regarding this house. The IGG is also informed,” the letter reads further.
The letter which the President copied to Inspector General of Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs is said to have been responded to two days ago according to parliament sources.
However, hours after Museveni’s letter leaked to the public and went viral on social media, Speaker Among fires back in a length response on her X handle playing innocence of the allegations and instead insisted that the UK are forging the evidence table before the President.“Since the UK government claims I own property, it should be prudent of them to state which property I own as Anita Annet Among. Forgery should be the least the world can expect from them,” Ms Among statement attached with evidence on the alleged Silk House read on Wednesday evening
“I am sure this is the answer my President, our government, and myself want from them. Nothing else. The alleged house plot, Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom, which they informed the President is owned by myself, surely has an owner who is registered in their own system (the UK Government), and this owner, as per their own record, is not Anita Among,” she added.
The saga that continues to rock the country’s airwaves stems from the UK sanctions slapped against Ms Among as well as two former Karamoja ministers—Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu—following their involvement in the iron sheets (mabaati) theft scandal.
The three were sanctioned alongside 42 other individuals from Bulgaria, Kosovo, Colombia, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zimbabwe, Israel, Lebanon, Honduras, Equatorial Guinea, and Guatemala.
“Specifically, Among, whilst Speaker of Parliament of Uganda and Member of Parliament for Bukedea District, is or has been responsible for or engaged in serious corruption,” reads in part the consolidated list of financial sanctions targets in the UK by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.
Ms Among on Wednesday described the sanctions as “politically motivated” over her stance on homosexuality, especially the Anti-Homosexuality law and vowed not to back down.
Below is Speaker Among’s full statement
Fellow Ugandans, While I had chosen not to respond to the pieces of malicious content and schemes thrown at me by various actors from within and outside our country, I wish now to comment briefly on the issue of my alleged ownership of properties in the UK, which is now a subject of diplomatic engagement between our two countries. I am glad that His Excellency the President of Uganda has given attention to this matter and rightfully chosen to seek the truth through formal diplomatic channels.
Indeed, like the known principle of natural justice recognized in most jurisdictions of the Commonwealth (including Britain), the one who alleges must prove. Since the UK government claims I own property, it should be prudent of them to state which property I own as Anita Annet Among.
Forgery should be the least the world can expect from them. I am sure this is the answer my President, our government, and myself want from them. Nothing else.
The alleged house plot, Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom, which they informed the President is owned by myself, surely has an owner who is registered in their own system (the UK Government), and this owner, as per their own record, is not Anita Among. Fellow Ugandans, while this matter is exciting to some because of our own internal political contradictions and intrigue, I insist and wish to alert all, soundly, that the issue is not the alleged corruption or ownership in the UK. The attempts to forge and claim that I own property when their own records show the contrary tell it all. The real crux of the matter is about targeting Anita Among for being vocal against homosexuality. The rest is a cover-up. The truth will set me free. (John 8:32)