The Parliament of Uganda has decided to take legal action against The Observer Newspaper, claiming that the media house has been spreading false information and inciting hostility among Ugandan citizens.
The decision to sue was announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, during the plenary session held earlier today, April 24, 2024. Among expressed her dismay at the newspaper’s allegations of bribery involving Members of Parliament (MPs).
This matter arose after The Observer published an article today April 24, 2024, accusing MPs of accepting bribes from external agencies. The allegations suggested that these bribes were intended to sway the MPs’ votes in favor of retaining certain government agencies under discussion for return to their respective governing ministries.
“These allegations of saying MPs were bribed must stop. Nobody was bribed. People did legislation on their own. How can you bribe the whole house who are willing to even put up their hands to vote?” Among asked.
The Speaker went on to address The Observer’s claims, asserting that no MPs were involved in any corrupt activities during the decision-making process. She strongly denied any allegations of bribery and criticized the newspaper for tarnishing the integrity of the parliamentarians.
“It is absolutely unfair to question my members’ integrity. No member was bribed to oppose the RAPEX bills. Whatever decisions were made, they were a result of consensus among all members,” Speaker Among explained.
The Parliament’s Legal Department has been instructed to take immediate action and initiate legal proceedings against The Observer for disseminating falsehoods and tarnishing the reputation of MPs. The lawsuit aims to uphold the integrity of Parliament and defend its members against baseless allegations.
The allegations made by The Observer have caused a stir among Ugandans, leading to increased public scrutiny of Parliament and its decision-making processes. Speaker Among reiterated that every decision taken by the Parliament is made with the best interests of the Ugandan people at heart, particularly concerning the RAPEX bills.
