UNEXPECTED GUESTS AT AMONG’S HOME! Outgoing Speaker Faces Arrest In Corruption Crackdown
PANIC, tension and high drama gripped the political establishment Saturday after heavily coordinated security operations descended on properties linked to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among in a sensational corruption probe that has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s corridors of power.
By press time, operatives from the Crime Intelligence Directorate, Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) were still combing through documents, electronic devices and financial records from multiple properties associated with the powerful Speaker, amid growing speculation that she could soon be formally grilled — or even arrested.
Sources close to the investigations revealed that Among’s passports were seized during the operations, intensifying fears within her camp that authorities may be preparing to restrict her movements as investigations deepen.
The dramatic raids targeted Among’s plush residence in Nakasero, where security operatives reportedly sealed off entrances and restricted movement as teams conducted room-to-room searches.
At the same time, other security teams reportedly moved on properties linked to her in Kololo, Kigo, Bukedea and Buyende creating what insiders described as one of the most significant anti-corruption operations ever directed at a Speaker of Parliament.
Investigators are reportedly hunting for documents and financial records linked to allegations of illicit wealth accumulation, abuse of office, money laundering and possible breaches of Uganda’s Leadership Code Act.
The explosive operation comes at an extremely sensitive political moment — barely days after newly elected legislators were sworn in and just before Parliament elects its Speaker on May 25.
Among, who succeeded the late Jacob Oulanyah as Speaker, had already declared her intention to seek a second term and had been actively lobbying members of Parliament to retain the powerful seat.
But Saturday’s developments have now thrown her political future into serious uncertainty.
For months, critics have accused Among of presiding over a Parliament increasingly associated with controversy, secrecy and allegations of corruption.
During her tenure, she built enormous political influence inside both Parliament and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), becoming one of the most powerful political figures in the country.
Her allies praise her for transforming Bukedea through aggressive social projects, including schools, sports academies and a teaching hospital that turned the district into a major political showcase.
However, her critics argue that her speakership coincided with growing executive control over Parliament and weakening oversight over public spending.
The investigations now unfolding are closely tied to Uganda’s Leadership Code Act of 2002, which requires public officials to declare assets, liabilities and sources of income to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
Pressure reportedly intensified after lawyers and civil society activists petitioned Inspector General of Government Aisha Batala Naluzze, accusing Among of failing to fully declare her assets and allegedly living beyond what could reasonably be explained by her official earnings.
The petitioners reportedly pointed to luxury properties and an ultra-expensive Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly valued at more than Shs3.5 billion as possible indicators of unexplained wealth.
IGG Lady Justice Aisha Batala Naluzze later confirmed receiving the complaints and announced investigations into the allegations — setting the stage for the dramatic events now unfolding.
Saturday’s raids have also revived memories of the international sanctions slapped on Among in 2024 by both the United Kingdom and the United States over allegations connected to the diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja under a government relief programme.
Although Among repeatedly denied wrongdoing, the sanctions badly damaged her international image and intensified public debate over corruption, accountability and abuse of office within top government institutions.
Political observers now say the latest developments could mark the biggest crisis of her political career.
Governance expert Dr. Sarah Bireete delivered one of the sharpest assessments yet, arguing that Parliament under Among increasingly appeared more focused on political loyalty than accountability.
“Parliament is constitutionally expected to serve as the guardian of taxpayers’ resources,” she observed. “But in recent years, many Ugandans saw an institution that often fast-tracked controversial government positions while appearing reluctant to rigorously scrutinize expenditure. The current investigations reflect growing frustration over impunity and institutional capture.”
Behind the scenes, signs are emerging that powerful political forces may already be distancing themselves from the embattled Speaker.
The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), the pressure group closely associated with First Son and military commander Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, reportedly withdrew its earlier support for Among’s bid to retain the speakership.
Reports of tense internal meetings within the ruling establishment have fueled speculation that senior power brokers are reconsidering whether Among’s continued leadership could damage the image and legitimacy of the incoming Parliament.
Fueling further speculation was the abrupt cancellation of a planned high-profile dinner for newly sworn-in MPs at Munyonyo — an event many insiders viewed as part of Among’s intense lobbying campaign ahead of the Speaker elections.
The cancellation immediately triggered whispers of a rapidly weakening political grip as fear spread among allies and supporters.
Meanwhile, the investigations appear to be widening beyond Among herself.
CID’s summoning of Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija over alleged expenditure irregularities has raised fresh questions about whether investigators are now targeting broader financial management systems within Parliament itself.
The arrest of Masaka City Woman MP Justine Namere, one of Among’s outspoken allies, added even more drama to the unfolding political storm.
The developments are now threatening to plunge the opening days of the 12th Parliament into unprecedented uncertainty as Uganda faces growing public anger over corruption, rising debt, unemployment and economic hardship.
Critics argue that Parliament — constitutionally mandated to oversee public expenditure and defend taxpayers — has increasingly lost public trust amid repeated scandals and accusations of shielding powerful figures from accountability.
Uganda continues to rank poorly on global corruption perception indexes, with Transparency International repeatedly identifying public sector corruption as one of the country’s biggest governance challenges.
Yet even as the raids unfold, some observers caution that anti-corruption campaigns in Uganda have often faced accusations of selective enforcement influenced by political interests and internal power struggles.
As security operatives continued their searches late into Saturday evening, tension remained extremely high across the political establishment, with many now anxiously waiting to see whether the once untouchable Speaker could soon face formal charges, arrest or an even bigger political fall.
GOT A HOT STORY? EMAIL: redpeppertips@gmail.
SOURCE PROTECTION/CONFIDENTIALITY IS OUR NO.1 PRIORITY.
About Post Author
