Uganda, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is intending to engage the government of the United Kingdom over the recent sanctions imposed on three politicians.
John Mulimba, the State Minister for Regional Affairs, confirmed the move on Friday, May 3, 2024, while briefing Parliament on the sanctions imposed on the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, and two former ministers, including Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
The trio is accused of corruption, according to a statement released by the UK Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, on April 30, 2024.
Minister Mulimba said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks forward to engaging with the British High Commission in Uganda and the UK government over the sanctions, bearing in mind sovereignty, which remains a cardinal principle in bilateral relations.
In her opening remarks while chairing the Friday plenary session, Speaker Among said the President will, at an appropriate time, respond to the UK sanctions, describing them as an indictment on the Parliament of Uganda.
“I am not worried [about UK sanctions]. If they feel I have property in the UK, let them go and freeze them and see if I will complain,” said Among.
She said she is being targeted under the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
MP Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality said the UK has the right to sanction anybody, and nobody should be concerned.
“It is their sovereign right, but they should be able to respect the sovereign rights of other countries. Otherwise, you run the risk of undermining each other. Foreign governments must learn to respect the sovereign rights of others,” said MP Asuman.
MP Theodore Ssekikubo of Lwemiyaga County said it was a collective effort of the whole House to pass the anti-gay law.
“If there is such an indictment, then it should be for all of us. I want us to stand firm as far as the enactment of this law is concerned,” said MP Ssekikubo.
This is the first time the UK government has used the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime on individuals involved in corruption in Uganda.
