Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | President Museveni has instructed the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among to explain the ownership of a house in the United Kingdom (UK), which the British government claims belongs to her.
In a letter dated May 23, confirmed as authentic by State House, Mr. Museveni stated that he had received information that is “contrary to what you told me.”
The President’s letter, copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Inspector General of Government, raises questions about Among’s financial dealings and potential conflicts of interest.
According to the information received, Ms. Among does, in fact, own a house in London.
“Do you own that house or are you renting it?,” the President asked in the brief letter in which he does not specify the source of his new information.
Mr. Museveni specified that the property in question is Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom.
According to 192.com, a British company that provides an online directory and public domain information for the UK, this property was sold as a leasehold flat or maisonette on April 26, 2021.
A maisonette is a self-contained apartment, typically on two floors, within a larger building, and has its own entrance from the outside.
According to 192.com, the flat was sold for £183,895 (approximately Shs 891 million).
The property was listed on the market by Dimension Estates through onthemarket.com, which described it as being well situated in the heart of vibrant Stratford Central. The area offers a wealth of shops, entertainment venues, and is near the new Westfield shopping centre.
“Sorry, we are not able to supply ownership information for this property at present,” is all the site gives when you press for ownership detail.
Speaker Among claims UK forged house ownership evidence
Speaker Anita Among has however responded to President Museveni’s letter accusing the UK of forging house ownership evidence presented to Mr. Museveni, dismissing the claims as a targeted attack on her stance against homosexuality.
“The attempts to forge and claim that I own property when their own records show the contrary tell it all. The real crux of the matter is about targeting Anita Among for being vocal against homosexuality. The rest is a cover-up. The truth will set me free,” Speaker Among said in a statement.
The allegations, which have prompted diplomatic discussions between Uganda and the UK, have been regarded as an attempt at forgery. Speaker Among has challenged the UK government to provide evidence supporting the claim of her ownership of the property.
“I am glad that His Excellency the President of Uganda has given attention to this matter and rightfully chosen to seek the truth through formal diplomatic channels. Indeed, like the known principle of natural justice recognized in most jurisdictions of the Commonwealth (including Britain), the one who alleges must prove,” Speaker Among emphasized.
“Since the UK government claims I own property, it should be prudent of them to state which property I own as Anita Annet Among. Forgery should be the least the world can expect from them. I am sure this is the answer my President, our government, and myself want from them. Nothing else,” she added.
Speaker Among’s full response
Fellow Ugandans,
While I had chosen not to respond to the pieces of malicious content and schemes thrown at me by various actors from within and outside our country, I wish now to comment briefly on the issue of my alleged ownership of properties in the UK, which is now a subject of diplomatic engagement between our two countries.
I am glad that His Excellency the President of Uganda has given attention to this matter and rightfully chosen to seek the truth through formal diplomatic channels.
Indeed, like the known principle of natural justice recognized in most jurisdictions of the Commonwealth (including Britain), the one who alleges must prove. Since the UK government claims I own property, it should be prudent of them to state which property I own as Anita Annet Among. Forgery should be the least the world can expect from them. I am sure this is the answer my President, our government, and myself want from them. Nothing else.
The alleged house plot, Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waterden Road, London, E20 3AL, United Kingdom, which they informed the President is owned by myself, surely has an owner who is registered in their own system (the UK Government), and this owner, as per their own record, is not Anita Among.
Fellow Ugandans, while this matter is exciting to some because of our own internal political contradictions and intrigue, I insist and wish to alert all, soundly, that the issue is not the alleged corruption or ownership in the UK. The attempts to forge and claim that I own property when their own records show the contrary tell it all.
The real crux of the matter is about targeting Anita Among for being vocal against homosexuality. The rest is a cover-up.
The truth will set me free. (John 8:32)
What next?
Mr. Museveni, who has instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to contact the UK government for details about the house, is scheduled to meet with the Inspectorate of Government tomorrow to discuss the matter further.
This development has put Speaker Among in a difficult position, with her options narrowing at each turn.
When the UK government sanctioned Speaker Among and two former ministers for corruption related to benefiting directly or indirectly from relief items or their proceeds meant for vulnerable Karamojong, Among strongly denied the allegations. She asserted that she did not own even a pet in the UK and claimed the sanction was a political witch-hunt due to her stance against homosexuality.
However, Mr. Museveni later disclosed that he had met with the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Ms. Kate Airey OBE, at State House Nakasero on the day the UK government announced the sanctions.
On May 2, Mr. Museveni directed the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Ethics Ministry to investigate the UK’s claims that Ms. Among owned a house in London.
“Why would a Ugandan leader build or buy houses in UK or anywhere else abroad, when Uganda, the still under-developed country where she would have earned the money, still needs those investments?” the President said.
“It would definitely be a moral and ideological mistake.”
Also Read: Speaker Among blocks corruption debate amid growing public scrutiny
However, more than 12 hours later, the State House dramatically disowned the letter, labeling it a forgery.
President Museveni then instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo to formally request the UK government to explain the source of their information regarding Speaker Anita Among’s alleged ownership of a house or houses in the UK.
The President mentioned that he had received a message from the Inspector General of Government (IGG) indicating that Ms. Among had not disclosed any information related to owning property in the UK.
“I have received a letter from Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, deputy Inspector General of Government, of the 9th of May, 2024, informing me that the Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among never revealed that she had a house in United Kingdom,” the President told Gen Odongo.
He mentioned that Ms. Among had also assured him that she does not own any house or houses in the UK.
Mr. Museveni is seeking more details regarding the ownership of the property. However, it would be highly unusual for the UK government to jeopardize its own reputation by providing such information or sanctioning an official without solid evidence.
