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

What the report says

President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly ordered the release of former Ugandan parliament speaker Anita Annet Among from house arrest and decided not to pursue criminal charges against her, according to comments posted Tuesday by his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as chief of defence forces. Muhoozi said on X that Museveni had instructed him to free Among and that the state would not prosecute her. The posts did not provide further detail on the legal process or whether any other restrictions would remain in place.

The move comes after months of scrutiny of Among over alleged corruption, illicit enrichment, abuse of office and money laundering. The Observer reported that security agencies searched several properties linked to her in May, including homes in Nakasero, Kigo and Bukedea, and that she had been placed under house arrest. She later stepped aside from the race for speaker of the 12th Parliament and was replaced by Jacob Oboth Oboth.

The article also places the development in the wider context of earlier international sanctions. The United Kingdom sanctioned Among in 2024 under its anti-corruption regime, and the United States followed with its own measures. Among has denied wrongdoing and argued that the accusations were politically driven. The latest decision appears to halt a possible domestic prosecution before formal charges were filed, even as investigations and cases involving some parliamentary officials linked to her have continued, according to the report.