Yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Anita Among, staunchly defended Parliament amidst a growing anti-corruption campaign, emphasizing that any accusations must be substantiated with evidence. This defense followed the detention of several lawmakers on graft allegations.
Ms. Among, recently sanctioned by the UK and US over corruption allegations, invoked the principle of presumed innocence to protect the MPs, asserting that arrests do not equate to guilt.
Her remarks could spark a moral debate between Parliament and the Executive. Recently, President Museveni accused lawmakers of collaborating with government officials to misappropriate funds by inflating the budget.
Ms. Among's comments came in response to President Museveni's letter highlighting corruption in Parliament as a reason for not signing the Appropriation Bill 2024. He cited issues such as budget indiscipline and massive corruption as concerns.
A number of MPs, especially those on the Budget Committee, have been arrested and questioned for allegedly manipulating the budgeting process and soliciting kickbacks, which constitutes corruption.
Among the detained MPs are Ms. Cissy Nammujju, Paul Akamba, and Yusuf Mutembuli, accused of seeking a 20 percent kickback from the Uganda Human Rights Commission's budget.
Ms. Among has previously defended colleagues facing corruption charges. Recently, she suggested that MPs sharing illicit gains with their constituents was not a severe issue.
President Museveni, despite cautioning against targeting influential figures during anti-corruption audits, has recently taken a strong stance against corruption, including among MPs.
During the parliamentary session, opinions were divided, with some MPs criticizing the President's accusations and others acknowledging corruption within Parliament.
Erute South MP Jonathan Odur highlighted serious corruption allegations against the Budget Committee, while Budget Committee chair Patrick Isiagi defended the committee's actions as based on sectoral committee recommendations.
The debate underscored the need for clarity and accountability in the budgeting process, with MPs recognizing that Parliament as a whole must address these corruption concerns.