This week the United Kingdom through its website announced sanctions against the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Rt Hon Anita Among and two other former ministers for Karamoja Affairs Mary Gorret Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu for their involvement in the recent iron sheets saga.
Looking at the nature of these sanctions and the people involved leaves many questions unanswered and certainly signifies a hidden agenda.
Whereas the two former Ministers are being charged in courts of law, the Speaker of Parliament was not among those being charged because she legally requisitioned for ironsheets and distributed them to the rightful owners. Even when it emerged that the OPM office had allocated to her ironsheets meant for Karamoja, she bought new iron sheets and returned them to the OPM.
So what is the connection between the two former Ministers who are in Court and Speaker Annet Among? How could any sane person bundle them into the same category?
Secondly if the sanctions were about those who were charged in Courts, why was Amos Lugoloobi left out? So how do you sanction the Speaker who donated ironsheets to public schools and leave out Lugoloobi who used to them to roof a shelter for his goats? Is there any logic?
Moreso, if the sanctions were targeting anyone who was involved in this controversy, why were other Ministers like Rabecca Kadaga, Rukia Nakadama who were in the OPM and who should have known the intention of the ironsheets not sanctioned ? How comes that other Ministers including the Vice President, Jacob Oboth Oboth, Matia Kasaija, Henry Musasizi etc were not sanctioned yet just like the Speaker they requisitioned for ironsheets and distributed them to the rightful owners? So what yardstick did government use to sanction the Speaker and leave out all other Ministers? Why would there be selective application of the law or policy?
So it’s clear and obvious that the UK government is acting out of bias and malice. They have another agenda against the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda and they are using ironsheets issue as a cover.
It’s sad that the United Kingdom who are the anchors of democracy and human rights are acting in deception. It’s sad that they are negating all the principles of natural justice like right to a fair hearing or presumption of innocence until proven guilty and acting as bullies.
They should rather be clear that they are fighting a homosexuality war because the Speaker has been very instrumental in fighting the vice. Fortunately Rt Hon Anita Among is not dying to travel to their country, neither does she have any business interests there!
Muhimbise George, The author is a Political Analyst.
