Inside IGG Report on Among’s Undeclared Wealth
Following the May 16 security raid on her residence in Nakasero, former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among’s wealth has been under intense scrutiny. The Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Justice Aisha Lubega Batata, has reportedly compiled a damning report implicating Among in ongoing investigations into alleged corruption, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office.
Sources familiar with the probe told New Vision that the report identifies ten major issues of concern relating to the management of parliamentary funds, asset declarations, and the accumulation of wealth during Among’s tenure. Although the contents have not been made public, sources say the findings point to several areas that investigators believe warrant further scrutiny and possible action.
Asset Declaration Irregularities
One of the key issues raised relates to Among’s asset declarations. According to sources, investigators scrutinized her declarations and allegedly established that some assets were either omitted or under-declared. The properties in question reportedly include a house in the UK, two farms in northern Uganda, and the controversial Walusimbi’s Garage property in Kampala, which investigators believe was recently acquired.
Under the Leadership Code Act, failure to declare assets or under-declaring wealth attracts a range of sanctions, including fines, demotion, dismissal from office, vacation of office, and forfeiture of illicitly acquired assets.
Among and several other top government officials were sanctioned by the UK and the US in 2024 over allegations of corruption and human rights abuses. The UK government linked her to a London property: Flat 4, Silk House, 7 Waderden Road. Publicly, she has said she does not own properties in the UK, accused the British government of tabling forged documents, and claimed the target on her back is due to passing the anti-homosexuality law.
Sources further said investigators are examining wealth allegedly held by Among that they believe is not commensurate with her known sources of income and official earnings as Speaker.
Recruitment, Procurement, and Financial Irregularities
Sources also said the investigations probed the recruitment of hundreds of Parliament staff who reportedly got jobs that had not been advertised. Some of those recruited allegedly include sons and daughters of prominent judges, ministers, and close allies of Among.
The Inspectorate further established that Among allegedly used her position to influence various processes, including recruitments and non-accountable payments that bypassed established financial processes. She is also accused of spending public funds without proper accountability. According to a source, parliamentary funds were reportedly withdrawn under the guise of corporate social responsibility but were allegedly used by Among for personal benefit.
The investigations extended to procurement issues. Among is being accused of meddling in parliamentary acquisitions and directing her alleged cronies to be awarded lucrative contracts. This includes a conflict of interest allegation: that she, together with Moses Magogo (her husband and president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations), received money for accommodating the Uganda Cranes team at her unrated facility, Crane’s Paradise Hotel in Kisaasi, Kampala.
Ghost Trips and Per Diem Abuses
The preliminary investigation also faults the former speaker for undertaking several ghost trips to different countries where billions of shillings were reportedly paid directly to her close aides, yet she never travelled. Although sources said the trips were 25 in number, officials at the IGG have singled out seven trips allegedly undertaken by Among between September 6, 2023 and January 29, 2024, in which she reportedly received sh2.6 billion paid directly to her account after taking a total of 164 days out of the country for official work.
Details of alleged trips include:
· Unnamed destination: sh499m for a 30-day official leave (Sept 6, 2023).
· Bi-annual holiday: 30 days, paid sh1.49m.
· Kigali, Rwanda (7 days): paid sh106m.
· Italy (4 days): paid sh98m.
· Kenya (43 days): paid sh653m.
· Midland, Johannesburg, South Africa (20 days): paid sh318m.
· Kenya (30 days): paid sh487m.
One of the issues under investigation is also how Parliament allegedly raised the per-diem allowance for the speaker from sh900,000 to $5,000 (sh18.7m).
Key Officials Summoned
According to a source, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige appeared before the IGG two weeks ago, where he was grilled on matters relating to Among. He was cautioned against interfering with ongoing investigations.
Several Parliament staff have also been summoned, including Director of Finance and Administration Patrick Kusomba, Head of Transport and Logistics Henry Waiswa, Head of Protocol Emmanuel Okwi Emuron, as well as Daniel Adilo, Charles Lumanga, Rajab Kaya, and Louise Bakyenga (executive secretary in the office of Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa).
Former Parliament commissioner Mathias Mpunga appeared before the inspectorate on Friday (May 29) and was interrogated over the controversial sh1.7b service award. Other former commissioners summoned include Solomon Silwany, Esther Anyakun, and Prossy Akampurira. Court documents indicate Mpunga received sh500m, while each of the other commissioners received sh400m. Although the High Court upheld the awards as lawful on August 13, 2024, the court noted that Mpunga is personal responsibility due to dereliction of duty.
Next Steps and Response
The report was submitted to President Yoweri Museveni before Jacob Oboth’s election as Speaker of the 12th Parliament on May 25 at Kololo Independence Grounds, according to sources. The IGG is now awaiting a decision on the next course of action.
Efforts to get a comment from IGG Batata were futile, as repeated calls went unanswered. IGG spokesperson Allan Mungyera said she could not discuss ongoing investigations publicly.
Among’s lawyer, Caleb Alaka, recently dismissed most of the allegations flatly, saying: “All those are lies.”
About The Author
