Speaker Anita Among led her fellow MPs in assuring the people of Lwengo District that their Woman MP Cissy Namujju will soon be out. Among, the Bukedea District Woman MP, said it was better for a child to steal and return home.
On June 22, Among was at Katovu Playground in Lwengo District at the launch of the Ssentaayi Foundation spearheaded by Bukoto West MP Muhammad Muyanja. Alongside her were MPs such as Kashambya County MP David Kabanda and Rakai District Woman MP Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama.
Their colleagues, including Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembuli and Paul Akamba, are on remand over corruption in relation to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) budget and Shs164bn meant for the compensation of cooperative societies.
Reports suggest that at least 30 MPs are set to be quizzed by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of Uganda Police Force (UPF) over their role in several corruption scandals, some related to budgeting processes.
The Anti-Corruption Court has already committed Namujju, Mutembuli and Akamba to the High Court for trial over their role in the UHRC budget corruption scandal. These were the first group of legislators to face interrogation, arrests and home searches over corruption as the state moves to crack the whip against corrupt officials.
MP Kinyamatama said she had heard that Namujju has been sharing whatever she is accused of stealing with her voters. Kabanda praised Namujju for her generous heart and for giving back to the communities in Lwengo. She told the people of Lwengo not to worry about the arrests of MPs, assuring them that would soon end and that there will be celebrations to welcome Namujju from prison.
Speaker Anita Among says Namujju was a diligent servant for the people of Lwengo District and was still interested in and capable of representing them in the 12 parliament. In fact, Among, said Namujju would be Lwengo District Woman MP “forever.”
She even claimed that Namujju had sent her Lwengo voters her love from prison where she is on remand. “I met with Hon. Namujju and she says she loves all of you and she is in good spirits. She will be with you and she is going to be your woman MP forever,” Among told the crowd.
She then sought to bring the president in the matter, which is already in court, blurring the principle of separation of powers. Speaker Anita Among also seemed to suggest that Museveni would forgive Namujju of her wrongdoing or perhaps push through a light punishment for her.
“The President has heard your cries where you said that when your child misbehaves, you beat and say go back and do something good,” said the speaker, before handing Muyanja a donation of Shs50m, said to have been from President Museveni and his son, also army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Speaker Anita Among herself also faces corruption allegations and two countries – the US and the UK – have sanctioned her over corruption. The UK has even claimed that she has properties, including a house in their country. But Among has denied the claims, saying she does not even own a pussycat in the UK. (See Details Here and There).
It should be remembered that President Museveni used his State of the Nation Address to threaten to crush corrupt officials in the finance ministry, Parliament and State House. This week, MPs Michael Mawanda Maranga and Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudini were the latest to be remanded to prison over corruption. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
