Parliament Accuses UK of Meddling in Uganda’s Internal Affairs
Parliament of Uganda has accused the government of the United Kingdom (UK) of meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
This follows an announcement on Tuesday by the UK government that they have imposed sanctions on Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, over allegations of corruption.
UK’s Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said the sanctions based on the theft and diversion of iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub region also extend to former Karamoja ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
In a statement, Chris Obore, the Director Communication and Public Affairs, said the sanctions are based on falsehoods, urging the UK to respect Uganda’s sovereignty.
“The ironsheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions – which is the Rt. Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act,” says Obore in a statement.
“The truth is that the ironsheets were, in fact, distributed to public schools, and Mr. Andrew Mitchell – who was vocal in condemning the Rt. Hon Speaker Among for enacting the Anti-Homosexuality Act – did not, in his statement, indicate how exactly the Rt. Hon. Speaker derived personal benefit from them.”
“It is important that foreign partners, including the United Kingdom, respect the sovereignty of Uganda, and avoid the temptation to meddle into our local politics, including arm-twisting decision makers to align with their value system, especially on homosexuality,” Obore adds.
Among is among the over 20 top government officials accused of stealing and diverting thousands of iron sheets meant to support livelihoods for the demobilized Karachunas (youths) in Karamoja that were engaged in cattle rustling.
Government agencies Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID), Inspectorate General of Government and Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have since handled the matter.
It emerged that some of the people who received the ironsheets did not actually solicit for them, something that prompted DPP to close 17 case files, including that of Speaker Among due to lack of concrete evidence.
On the other side, Ministers Nandutu, Kitutu, and Amos Lugoloobi are still in court facing charges of corruption.
On her part, the Speaker Among, in one of the parliamentary sessions, said she had received only 300 pieces in her District of Bukedea despite not requesting them. Among, would then buy and return 500 pieces.
“I have taken a personal decision as a leader that since the iron sheets were not meant for my District and had already been given out, I have decided to buy 500 iron sheets and take them back. I have sent my personal assistant to take the iron sheets to the Office of the Prime Minister,” the Speaker said.
She explained that returning 500 pieces of iron sheets over and above the 300 pieces that were irregularly advanced to her, was aimed at salvaging the image of Parliament which is charged with an oversight mandate on other arms of the government.
“I must thank the person who thought about Bukedea, but because I don’t want people to say that I grabbed iron sheets, I have taken them back. I don’t want to be a shame to Parliament, and I am doing this for the image of this House,” said Among.
It is now not clear how the UK government reached on to the conclusion that Among and other officials stole ironsheets on a matter that is before courts of law? Isn’t it also interfering with and undermining internal mechanisms of handling issues since the DPP had pronounced herself on the same?
It remains unclear why the UK government insists that Among stole ironsheets yet she actually instructed investigations into the same as well as buying and returning more? Why should the UK government reach conclusion on matters before courts of law in Uganda if not for meddling and undermining internal mechanisms of a sovereign country?
Parliament’s statement corroborate with analysts who are familiar with the strategic operations of Western countries towards advancing a particular narrative to score specific goals.
Analysts say the sanctions are nothing other than witch-hunting the person of Among for her role in enacting the anti-homosexuality law.
They warn that the worst is yet to come from Western nations for Among, parliament of Uganda and the government itself if the country insists on not repealing what they describe as a discriminative law.
The Act criminalises the promotion of homosexuality in the country, but homosexuals and their funders have since its enactment been ‘fuming’ issuing sanctions, blocking aid and ‘promising to work’ on those behind the law.
Uganda continues to be pressured by the Western nations and their tools like World Bank, IMF and the U.N to repeal it, or face their wrath.
The United States (U.S.) reacted first by denying Among and several key legislators behind the legislation, entry into the U.S.
The sanctions are yet another justification for the need by the African continent to strengthen ties with new strategic partners like Russia.
The U.S. and the UK want to suffocate African States by imposing and advancing their imperial tendencies, justifying an immediate need for Africa to seek and further cooperation with alternative strategic partners like Russia before it’s late.
The harsh criticism towards Uganda, including threats of sanctions and withdrawal of aid by the U.S. for criminalizing same-sex is not only an explicit manifestation of the fact that the U.S. views Africans as people in need of help or people who need to be told what to do, but also an outright interference in the internal affairs of African sovereign States.
President Yoweri Museveni and Parliament of Uganda, in the interest of the country, deemed it fit to have a legislation that would prohibit such acts and there promotion “because they undermine Ugandan and African values and cultures.”
However, the decision, angered the U.S, another sovereign country, to the extent that President Joe Biden, directed President Museveni to immediately repeal the law on grounds that the legislation is a “tragic violation of universal human rights”.
The directive, issued in disregard of Uganda’s sovereignty, undermines mutual cooperation and instead imposes the abhorrent Western and U.S. practices on the African people.
Homosexuality is outlawed in more than 30 African countries. This is what Africa has decided. It is what the people of Africa have chosen. It is therefore disturbing that the Biden administration can impose it on the continent and its people.
So, because of the aid, the Americans want to hold Ugandans and other Africans at ransom and compromise their beliefs and values.
For decades now, the U.S. and the UK have failed to realize that there is a need to rebalance its strategy towards Africa, with meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships that are not simply opportunistic and self-serving. This justifies why seeking alternative partners is not an option.
For the West to continue treating African states as countries needing only its assistance and aid as opposed to diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation is hugely detestable.
It is a wake-up call for African States to first of all reject such unfairness but also strongly partner with other key global players.
This follows an announcement on Tuesday by the UK government that they have imposed sanctions on Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, over allegations of corruption.
UK’s Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said the sanctions based on the theft and diversion of iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub region also extend to former Karamoja ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
In a statement, Chris Obore, the Director Communication and Public Affairs, said the sanctions are based on falsehoods, urging the UK to respect Uganda’s sovereignty.
“The ironsheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions – which is the Rt. Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act,” says Obore in a statement.
“The truth is that the ironsheets were, in fact, distributed to public schools, and Mr. Andrew Mitchell – who was vocal in condemning the Rt. Hon Speaker Among for enacting the Anti-Homosexuality Act – did not, in his statement, indicate how exactly the Rt. Hon. Speaker derived personal benefit from them.”
“It is important that foreign partners, including the United Kingdom, respect the sovereignty of Uganda, and avoid the temptation to meddle into our local politics, including arm-twisting decision makers to align with their value system, especially on homosexuality,” Obore adds.
Among is among the over 20 top government officials accused of stealing and diverting thousands of iron sheets meant to support livelihoods for the demobilized Karachunas (youths) in Karamoja that were engaged in cattle rustling.
Government agencies Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID), Inspectorate General of Government and Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have since handled the matter.
It emerged that some of the people who received the ironsheets did not actually solicit for them, something that prompted DPP to close 17 case files, including that of Speaker Among due to lack of concrete evidence.
On the other side, Ministers Nandutu, Kitutu, and Amos Lugoloobi are still in court facing charges of corruption.
On her part, the Speaker Among, in one of the parliamentary sessions, said she had received only 300 pieces in her District of Bukedea despite not requesting them. Among, would then buy and return 500 pieces.
“I have taken a personal decision as a leader that since the iron sheets were not meant for my District and had already been given out, I have decided to buy 500 iron sheets and take them back. I have sent my personal assistant to take the iron sheets to the Office of the Prime Minister,” the Speaker said.
She explained that returning 500 pieces of iron sheets over and above the 300 pieces that were irregularly advanced to her, was aimed at salvaging the image of Parliament which is charged with an oversight mandate on other arms of the government.
“I must thank the person who thought about Bukedea, but because I don’t want people to say that I grabbed iron sheets, I have taken them back. I don’t want to be a shame to Parliament, and I am doing this for the image of this House,” said Among.
It is now not clear how the UK government reached on to the conclusion that Among and other officials stole ironsheets on a matter that is before courts of law? Isn’t it also interfering with and undermining internal mechanisms of handling issues since the DPP had pronounced herself on the same?
It remains unclear why the UK government insists that Among stole ironsheets yet she actually instructed investigations into the same as well as buying and returning more? Why should the UK government reach conclusion on matters before courts of law in Uganda if not for meddling and undermining internal mechanisms of a sovereign country?
Parliament’s statement corroborate with analysts who are familiar with the strategic operations of Western countries towards advancing a particular narrative to score specific goals.
Analysts say the sanctions are nothing other than witch-hunting the person of Among for her role in enacting the anti-homosexuality law.
They warn that the worst is yet to come from Western nations for Among, parliament of Uganda and the government itself if the country insists on not repealing what they describe as a discriminative law.
The Act criminalises the promotion of homosexuality in the country, but homosexuals and their funders have since its enactment been ‘fuming’ issuing sanctions, blocking aid and ‘promising to work’ on those behind the law.
Uganda continues to be pressured by the Western nations and their tools like World Bank, IMF and the U.N to repeal it, or face their wrath.
The United States (U.S.) reacted first by denying Among and several key legislators behind the legislation, entry into the U.S.
The sanctions are yet another justification for the need by the African continent to strengthen ties with new strategic partners like Russia.
The U.S. and the UK want to suffocate African States by imposing and advancing their imperial tendencies, justifying an immediate need for Africa to seek and further cooperation with alternative strategic partners like Russia before it’s late.
The harsh criticism towards Uganda, including threats of sanctions and withdrawal of aid by the U.S. for criminalizing same-sex is not only an explicit manifestation of the fact that the U.S. views Africans as people in need of help or people who need to be told what to do, but also an outright interference in the internal affairs of African sovereign States.
President Yoweri Museveni and Parliament of Uganda, in the interest of the country, deemed it fit to have a legislation that would prohibit such acts and there promotion “because they undermine Ugandan and African values and cultures.”
However, the decision, angered the U.S, another sovereign country, to the extent that President Joe Biden, directed President Museveni to immediately repeal the law on grounds that the legislation is a “tragic violation of universal human rights”.
The directive, issued in disregard of Uganda’s sovereignty, undermines mutual cooperation and instead imposes the abhorrent Western and U.S. practices on the African people.
Homosexuality is outlawed in more than 30 African countries. This is what Africa has decided. It is what the people of Africa have chosen. It is therefore disturbing that the Biden administration can impose it on the continent and its people.
So, because of the aid, the Americans want to hold Ugandans and other Africans at ransom and compromise their beliefs and values.
For decades now, the U.S. and the UK have failed to realize that there is a need to rebalance its strategy towards Africa, with meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships that are not simply opportunistic and self-serving. This justifies why seeking alternative partners is not an option.
For the West to continue treating African states as countries needing only its assistance and aid as opposed to diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation is hugely detestable.
It is a wake-up call for African States to first of all reject such unfairness but also strongly partner with other key global players.
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Parliament Accuses UK of Meddling in Uganda’s Internal Affairs
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