The Ugandan parliament urged Britain to respect the country’s sovereignty.
Uganda has asked Britain to stop meddling in the local politics of the East African country after London announced sanctions on three of Uganda’s senior officials over allegations of corruption.
It is important that foreign partners, including Britain, respect the sovereignty of Uganda and avoid the temptation to meddle into our local politics, including arm-twisting decision makers to align with their value system, especially homosexuality, the parliament said in a statement.
The British government on Tuesday announced that it had sanctioned Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and two lawmakers, Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, over corruption allegations.
Kitutu and Nandutu, former ministers, have been charged with corruption in Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court for allegedly stealing iron sheets intended for the impoverished northeastern region of Karamoja.
The parliament accused the British government of distorting facts to suit its political agenda.
“The iron sheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions — which is the Rt Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act,” the statement said.
Last year, the Ugandan parliament passed a law prescribing life and death sentences for certain acts of homosexuality, a move strongly criticized by some Western countries, including see Britain.
About the sanctuons
The UK has imposed sanctions on the Speaker of Uganda’s parliament, as well as two MPs, for alleged corruption.
A statement said they had stolen from the poorest communities in the country and would be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.
The British Foreign Office said the two former ministers, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, had stolen thousands of metal roofing sheets which were meant for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region.
It said the Speaker, Anita Among, was also involved. She has also been accused of corruption involving parliamentary funds.
Anita Among has described the allegations as rumours that were triggered by her support for Uganda’s tough anti-LGBT legislation.
After sanctions, the UK was instructed to cease interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs.
Britain was asked to respect Uganda’s sovereignty by the parliament.
Since London imposed penalties on three of Uganda’s top officials due to accusations of corruption, the East African nation has begged Britain to refrain from interfering in domestic affairs.
According to a statement released by the parliament, it is critical that foreign allies, particularly the United Kingdom, respect Uganda’s sovereignty and resist the urge to meddle in domestic affairs by pressuring policymakers to adopt their values, particularly with regard to gay rights.
Tuesday saw the announcement by the British government that it had sanctioned two parliamentarians, Agnes Nandutu and Goretti Kitutu, as well as Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, for alleged corruption.
Former ministers Kitutu and Nandutu are accused of stealing iron sheets meant for the wealthy northeastern region of Karamoja, and as a result, they are facing corruption charges before Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court.
To further its political goals, the British government was accused by the parliament of falsifying facts.
“The iron sheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions — which is the Rt Hon Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act,” the statement read.
Several Western nations, particularly the United Kingdom, sharply condemned the Ugandan parliament’s adoption of a law last year that stipulated life in prison or execution for specific gay offenses.
Regarding the sanctuaries
Because of alleged corruption, the UK has imposed sanctions on two MPs and the Speaker of the Ugandan parliament.
Travel bans and asset freezes were to follow, according to a statement, since they had plundered from the nation’s poorest populations.
According to the British Foreign Office, thousands of metal roofing sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region were taken by two former ministers, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu.
According to it, Anita Among, the Speaker, was also engaged. Furthermore, she is alleged to have embezzled money from the legislature.
The accusations, according to Anita Among, are just rumors that started because she backed Uganda’s strict anti-LGBT laws.