Museveni ‘forgives’ former speaker Among, orders release from house arrest

President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly directed the release of former speaker of parliament Anita Annet Among from house arrest and decided against prosecuting her over allegations of massive corruption and illicit wealth generation.

President Museveni’s son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba claimed today, Tuesday, that Museveni had instructed him to release Among and that the State would not prosecute her.

“Mzee [Museveni] has also instructed me to release AAA from house arrest. We shall do that as well,” Muhoozi said in a post on X.

In a separate post responding to a question on whether criminal prosecution against Among would continue, Muhoozi said: “No. We shall not prosecute AAA. She made mistakes but Mzee has decided to forgive her.”

The decision marks a dramatic turn in the fortunes of Among, who only months ago was facing investigations into alleged corruption, illicit enrichment, abuse of office and money laundering.

Among was placed under house arrest in May after joint security agencies searched several properties linked to her, including residences in Nakasero, Kigo and Bukedea. The investigations also extended to entities associated with her, including a radio station and school in Bukedea.

The former speaker was also forced to step aside from the race for the speakership of the 12th Parliament amid the investigations and was subsequently replaced by Jacob Oboth Oboth.

What was Among accused of?

The latest investigations centred on allegations of corruption, illicit enrichment, money laundering and abuse of office, with investigators examining her wealth, property acquisitions and financial dealings.

The probe reportedly also examined the management of parliamentary funds and controversial payments made to parliamentary commissioners. Among was among officials linked to so-called “service awards” that were reportedly paid to commissioners in 2022 and 2023, with individual payments reported to have ranged between Shs1.4 billion and Shs1.7 billion.

Investigators were also reportedly examining allegations concerning the recruitment of parliamentary staff and other administrative decisions made during her tenure as speaker.

Among’s wealth and lifestyle had attracted scrutiny before the latest investigation. In May 2026, reports emerged that authorities were examining her wealth declarations and assets, including a luxury Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly valued at about Shs 3.4 billion.

The investigations followed years of international scrutiny. In April 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned Among under its Global Anti-Corruption regime, alleging that she benefited from the diversion of iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja. The sanctions included an asset freeze and travel restrictions.

The United States imposed sanctions on Among a month later, citing what it described as significant corruption linked to her leadership of parliament.

Among denied wrongdoing and dismissed the sanctions as politically motivated. Her supporters argued that the measures were linked to her support for Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act rather than corruption.

Despite the international sanctions and mounting scrutiny, Among remained politically influential and retained President Museveni’s public support for much of the period.

The 2026 investigation, however, represented a significant escalation. Security agencies searched properties linked to her and reportedly examined financial records, property ownership and other evidence as part of the inquiry.

No criminal charges had been formally brought against Among in relation to the latest investigation before Museveni’s decision to stop the prosecution.

Museveni’s decision therefore brings a potential prosecution to an end before charges were filed, although it was not immediately clear whether other restrictions, including reported freezes on her bank accounts and assets, would also be lifted.

The corruption investigation surrounding Among had also been widened to several senior parliamentary officials regarded as close associates or loyalists who were interdicted and charged and remanded, including the director of communications and public affairs Chris Obore, director of human resources Daniel Adilo, alongside Leonard Okema, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Emmanuel Emuron Okwi, Vincent Otebata and parliamentary Sacco chief executive Methods Murebe.

The seven have been charged with offences including embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering over allegations involving billions of shillings in parliamentary funds. Prosecutors allege that Obore alone embezzled Shs 5.25 billion between 2023 and May 2026, while Adilo is accused of diverting Shs 14.6 billion.

The prosecution of her former aides and senior parliamentary officials had also drawn attention to the way parliament was run during Among’s tenure, particularly allegations that officials considered close to her were promoted or given influential positions.

Adilo, for example, was transferred from the Electoral Commission to Parliament and rose from an entry-level position at the commission to director of human resources within about three years. With Museveni’s forgiveness, the fate of Among’s loyalists and associates remains to be seen.

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