Ugandan security agencies on Saturday carried out coordinated raids on properties linked to former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among as investigations into alleged corruption and illicit wealth accumulation intensified.
The operation involved officers from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Crime Intelligence, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who targeted Among’s upscale residence in Nakasero, Kampala.
Security operatives also reportedly sealed off additional properties associated with Among in Kololo and Kigo as investigators expanded searches connected to allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, and unexplained wealth.
Detectives, military intelligence personnel, and police forensic experts were seen examining documents and reviewing assets linked to the former speaker during the high-profile operation.
Witnesses said security personnel blocked movements in and out of the Nakasero residence during the raid. It remained unclear whether Among was inside the property at the time, although unconfirmed reports suggested she had been placed under house arrest.
Lawyers led by prominent advocate Caleb Alaka reportedly attempted to access the residence but were denied entry as the heavily guarded operation continued.
Authorities also conducted a separate search at the Kigo residence of Justine Nameere, a close associate of Among and the newly sworn-in Woman Member of Parliament for Masaka City.
Nameere was reportedly arrested on Friday shortly after her swearing-in ceremony in Masaka City. Investigators are said to be pursuing financial records and documents linked to alleged illicit wealth accumulation and possible violations of Uganda’s Leadership Code Act.
The raids come just days after newly elected legislators took oath and ahead of Parliament’s scheduled election of a new speaker on May 25.
Among had publicly declared interest in retaining the speakership for a second term. However, her leadership has faced mounting criticism over allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth following her rise to the position after the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
During her tenure, Among became one of the most influential figures within Parliament and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), known for steering key government business through the House.
Political pressure on Among has also intensified in recent weeks. The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a political group linked to First Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, recently withdrew support for her bid to remain speaker.
Further scrutiny emerged after lawyers and civil society activists petitioned Inspector General of Government Aisha Batala Naluzze, accusing Among of failing to fully declare her assets and allegedly living beyond her official earnings.
Petitioners highlighted luxury properties and a reported Rolls-Royce Cullinan valued at more than Shs3.5 billion as examples of suspected unexplained wealth.
The Inspector General of Government has since confirmed receipt of the complaint and announced formal investigations into the allegations.
In 2024, both the United Kingdom and the United States imposed sanctions on Among over allegations related to corruption and abuse of office tied to the diversion of iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja under a government relief program.
Although Among denied wrongdoing, the sanctions triggered widespread criticism and raised fresh concerns about accountability and governance within Parliament.
Governance expert Sarah Bireete said the investigations reflect growing public frustration over perceived impunity and institutional capture.
“Parliament is constitutionally expected to serve as the guardian of taxpayers’ resources,” Bireete said.
“But in recent years, many Ugandans felt the institution increasingly prioritized political loyalty over accountability.”
The unfolding scandal has also fueled speculation about divisions within the ruling establishment, with reports of tense internal meetings among senior political figures assessing Among’s future ahead of the speaker election.
The cancellation of a planned dinner for newly sworn-in MPs at Munyonyo, widely viewed as part of Among’s lobbying efforts, further intensified perceptions of declining political influence.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Directorate has also summoned Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija over alleged expenditure irregularities, raising expectations that investigations could extend beyond the former speaker to broader parliamentary financial management systems.
