The Speaker of the 4th Parliament, Amb. Prof. Francis Butagira, has commended the current Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, to stand firm and encouraged her to continue defending the interests of Uganda even when it comes at a heavy cost.
The former Speaker said this during a courtesy call at the Speaker’s residence in Nakasero, where, in the company of his daughters, he showed solidarity and encouraged Speaker Among to stay focused on national service without getting distracted.
Butagira’s solidarity comes at a time when Speaker Among is under sanctions by both the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) over allegations of corruption, and last week, a group of protestors demanded for her resignation.
Speaker Among has publicly denounced the corruption allegations, labeling them as politically motivated and linked to her strong stance on Uganda’s recently enacted anti-homosexuality law.
She accused the UK government of forging evidence regarding her alleged ownership of property in London, specifically denying any ownership of the property cited in official communications.
In her recent statements at a Thanksgiving ceremony of the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, Speaker Among emphasized her commitment to Uganda’s sovereignty and cultural values, arguing that Western nations should not exploit Uganda’s challenges for their gain and said she still has a term to serve as Speaker before handing over power.
