By Enyichukwu Enemanna
British authorities have imposed sanction on the Speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Anita Among over alleged corruption related to housing project, slamming her with travel ban and asset freeze, under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime.
Also affected by the sanction are, two high profile Ugandan lawmakers, Mary Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, former ministers for the Karamoja region.
Britain on Tuesday said Kitutu and Nandutu had stolen thousands of iron sheets from a government-funded housing project aimed at helping vulnerable communities in Karamoja.
Authorities said Among on her side had benefited from the proceeds of the theft, London’s statement added.
“The UK is sending a clear message to those who think benefiting at the expense of others is acceptable. Corruption has consequences and you will be held responsible,” Britain’s deputy foreign minister Andrew Mitchell said in a statement.
“The actions of these individuals, in taking aid from those who need it most, and keeping the proceeds, is corruption at its worst and has no place in society.”
Both Kitutu and Nandutu have been charged with corruption in Uganda and their cases are currently pending in the courts.
They could not immediately be reached for comment on the British sanctions, Reuters news agency says.
Uganda’s Parliament Spokesman Chris Obore told Reuters that the sanctions against the speaker were linked to British anger over an anti-homosexuality law passed in Uganda.
“Uganda has regulatory, investigatory and disciplinary institutions that deal with corruption and none of them has found the Speaker culpable, therefore; the corruption allegations are, as political and vendetta-driven, as they come,” Obore said.
Heritage Times reports that UK has sanctioned 42 individuals and entities under its anti-corruption regime since it was set up 2021, including from Russia, South Sudan and Venezuela.
This is not the first time a western country is imposing sanctions on African leaders over corruption.
In 2023, the US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior leaders, denouncing what it said was a campaign of rights abuses and corruption.
The sanctions blocks any U.S.-based property and blocks any unofficial travel to the United States.
He is the second consecutive Zimbabwean leader to face U.S. sanctions following veteran president Robert Mugabe.
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