I stand with Anitah Among!

So, Anitah Among was very dirty and her deputy for 4 years was innocent! Moreover, during their tenure, we never observed any kind of conflict between the speaker and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa. 

In the pretentious pursuit of corrupt officials in parliament, the nation witnessed a violent crackdown on former Speaker Among's properties and to the nation's surprise, her deputy Thomas Tayebwa was reinstated by the ruling NRM as deputy to the current speaker, Jacob Oboth Oboth!

Bluntly said, Anitah Among is being vindicated not so much for her graft scandal as for being stupid, too excited and seeming too powerful in a governing system where President Museveni obviously doesn't tolerate any signs of a competing force within his own party.

Formerly a prominent member of the opposition's Forum for Democratic Change(FDC), Among's political trajectory escalated dramatically when she defected to the ruling NRM party for the 11th parliament and secured the position of Deputy Speaker in May, 2021.

Former Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anitah Among.

On May 25th 2022, following the untimely death of Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, Among was elevated to the position of Speaker of Parliament, a position she held until May, 2026.

In a space of just 4 years, she managed to become a very powerful figure in the politics of the country, with her influence stretching  far beyond the parliamentary chamber into ruling party structures, district politics and national patronage systems.

According to the Observer newpaper,  Anitah Among transformed the Speakership into something far more politically expansive than her predecessors had attempted. She travelled extensivelly across the country, intervened in labour disputes, funded community projects and positioned parliament as a centre for resolving public grievances. Supporters praised her for acting where government ministries often appeared slow or ineffective.

In Bukedea her home district, she cultivated a "mother of the people" status. She oversaw the construction of roads, schools, a teaching hospital, gave scholarships and oversaw a number of philanthropic projects. 

Her lavish lifestyle has always been a cause of scrutiny over her management of government funds. Anitah Among has always had the population musing over her highly publicised dispaly of wealth which includes massive multi billion shilling mansions in Bukedea, Kololo, Nakasero and Kigo, luxury vehicles including a customized Range Rover estimated to cost more than 1 billion Ugandan shillings, among others. She sometimes made donations that highly exceeded those which the president could offer. 

Beyond Real Estate and vehicles, Among has been recognized in Uganda's political sphere for her high end fashion choices. She oftens dons coordinated designer sets, pastel suits and diamond-studded brooch for every outfit.

In April 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned Among under the "Global Anti- Corruption Regime" program over allegations that she diverted iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region. Following the U.K, the United States also sanctioned her, citing "significant corruption."

In July 2024, young Ugandans organized the "March to Parliament" protests in Kamapala to demand the parliament's accountability and the resignation of Speaker Annet Among over corruption allegations. These were heavily suppressed by security forces in mass arrests and subsequent legal proceedings against the activists.

During this time however, president Museveni seriously defended her, saying that the accusations were as as result of the recently passed anti-Homosecuality Act(2023), dismissing her critis as "traitors working for foreigners". This, until recently when Miss. Among gifted herself with a custom RollsRoyce vehicle, vaIued at approximately 3.4 billions. This is when the Pandora's box opened for the former Speaker.

All of a sudden, President Museveni changed his stance on Anitah Among. He quickly ordered investigations into sources of her alleged vast wealth. This saw the joint security and elite forces conducting raids on her Nakasero , Ntinda, Kigo and Bukedea residences. Authorities towed away at least four additional luxury cars and bullet proof SUVs as exhibits for allegations of money laundering and illicit wealth accumulation.  

Subsequently,  amidst reports that the NRM has changed its choice for Speakership race, Among withdrew from the race. In a statement issued on Monday 25th, 2026, Among said that she had decided not to contest after "wide consultations and deep introspection" aimed at maintaining "harmony and clarity" with in the ruling National Resistance Movement(NRM). 

According to sources familiar with the discussions, President Museveni was concerned that the controversy sorrounding Among risked damaging both parliament and the ruling party ahead of the formation of the 12th parliament.

Despite all this, let me reiterate my earlier statement that Anong is being castigated for no reason other than being too flashy, excited, stupid and too powerful.

Look, in Uganda, allegations of corruption against officials has somehow become a norm. We have not had any of those officials' properties being impounded. Some have been briefly imprisoned and  quickly released on bail, to go back home and enjoy their spoils. A case in point is Jim Muhwezi and Mike Mukula over the GAVI corruption saga. 

After over 30 years of corruption in the country and continous accusations of various government officials, is it with Anitah Among that president  Museveni has started to worry about public image of an official? Over the years, we have witnessed the president shamelessly reappoint officials formerly accused and convicted of corruption charges! The likes of Sam Kahamba Kuteesa and Jim Muhwezi, to mention but a few. How is public image a concern when it comes to Among and not a problem when it comes to the afore accused officials?  

Yes, Among may be guilty as charged but for a habit that has engulfed our community for over 30 years, what makes Among more guilty than all the rest who have not been harshly treated like she is currently being treated?

Anitah Among is being punished for being too falshy and stupid. Yes, stupid because every sensible African knows the unwritten rule that in Africa, a worker should never at any one time outshine thier boss. Talk of the CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba's tweet thus, "I have been Mzee's son for 52 years but I have never sat in a Rolls Royce ever. I don't think Mzee has sat in it either".

Bang! There you go! In Africa, once an employee tends to live a better life than that of their boss, they are presumed to be stealing from the company that employs them.  Note that after 40 years in power, Yoweri Museveni and his family seem to view Uganda as this family business that they guard jealously. Anyone outside their family who is perceived to be looting from the company is dealt with mercilessly.

Honestly, in my motherland Uganda, you don't act that flashy without risking losing your job. You just don't prepare chicken all the time in the presence of your landlord without risking your rent being hiked.

Miss Among is also a victim of what has now come to be known as "the poisonous cup" in Uganda. The cup which apparently led to the "untimely death" of the likes of  Amama Mbabazi, Sam Kuteesa and Rebecca Kadaga. That is; the suspicion that an NRM cadre is building their own powerful political base with in the party; a base that would presumably be used by that person to shake the much treasured chair that His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta is sitting in. This now, is the mother of all reasons why Among is being crucified.

In just five years, Among swiftly rose to become one of the most influential figures in Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement. Formerly an opposition politician, she joined the NRM in 2021, quickly securing the Speakership seat and subsequently winning the highly coveted NRM second national Vice Chairperson (Female) seat, much to the chagrin of longtime cadres like Rebecca Kadaga who feel eternally entitled to such positions in the party.

By skillfully leveraging her role as chair of the Appointments committee in Parliament, Among built a formidable power base that extended into judiciary, business committees and religious institutions. In August 2025, she solidified her status in the NRM's Central Executive Committee (CEC) by decisively defeating NRM stalwart Rebecca Kadaga.

Among had built a name for herself as the "grant-giving official", sometimes giving donations that highly exceeded those of the president. At one time, Among offered 50 million Ugandan shillings to the Uganda Cranes National football team and heavily subsidised running kits for students during poiltical affiliated birthday runs. She also granted 1Omillion to the Ngarium County women SACCO in Katakwi. 

In her home district, she cultivated a "mother of the people" status and in not so long, she was soon going going to be seen that way by all people of the nation.

Outshining your boss. A blunder that will swiftly send you down the grave especially here in Africa. Worse even, when the ruling figure sees themselves as an eternal leader of the country.

The parliament speaker's annual budget in Uganda stands at about 14billion Uganda shillings. Why raise so many questions about their source of expenditure?

Ladies and gentlemen, please let us not crucify Anitah Among. She is not more guilty than all those who have been accused of corruption in the past. Among is a victim of authoritarian rule, which rejects all possibilities of political plurality. She is furthermore, a victim of Yoweri Museveni's long term policy of kicking away the ladders that he uses to get to whatever position he may be seeking. Anitah spent sleepless days and nights during campaigns, moving around the country, trying to convince the population to keep their trust in long serving President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, only to be kicked away after Museveni's victory while her deputy retained his comfortable seat. 

It is laughable but sad at the same time. Anitah Among is guilty alone! How can that possibly be? Besides, a thief who shares spoils with the community is somewhat tolerable.