On Thursday, the United States implemented sanctions against the parliamentary speaker of Uganda, her spouse, and several other officials due to their involvement in corruption and violations of human rights.
"The Department of State is publicly designating five current and former Ugandan officials for their involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights. Speaker of Parliament Anita Among is designated due to involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament," the press statement read.
Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, a former deputy head of Uganda's military, was subjected to sanctions due to the involvement of government forces in "extrajudicial killings". Three ex-government ministers, who were recently involved in the embezzlement of roofing sheets that were not given to people of a destitute village, were also sanctioned.
In late April, the speaker, along with two other members of parliament, were also sanctioned by the UK for alleged corruption.
Responding to the accusations, Among noted that "forgery should be the least the world can expect from" the UK, since according to data in their system, the owner of the house plot attributed to the speaker is not Among.
"[...] The issue is not the alleged corruption or ownership in the UK. The attempts to forge and claim that I own property when their own records show the contrary tell it all. The real crux of the matter is about targeting Anita Among for being vocal against homosexuality. The rest is a cover-up," she said.
Uganda's parliament also called the allegations rumors stemming from the speaker's support for anti-LGBT* legislation in Uganda.
* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.