Gen. Salim Saleh, the brother of President Yoweri Museveni, has reportedly explained what he believes angered some senior figures in the government about former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
According to reports, Gen. Saleh told a delegation of leaders from the Teso sub-region that Anita Among’s challenges go beyond the corruption allegations currently surrounding her. He reportedly said that some of her political decisions created serious disagreements with powerful individuals.
The meeting reportedly took place at Gen. Saleh’s residence in Kapeeka, Nakaseke District, where leaders from Teso had gone to seek support for Anita Among. The group included cultural leaders, religious leaders, Members of Parliament, and other government officials.
The leaders reportedly wanted Gen. Saleh to use his influence to help Anita Among during a difficult period in which she is facing public criticism and legal challenges.
However, Gen. Saleh reportedly told them that he could not intervene in the matter. He explained that the situation had reached a level where only legal processes could determine the next steps.
According to the reports, Gen. Saleh said Anita Among was once his close friend and that she had always been generous whenever she visited him. He reportedly acknowledged that she was a person who supported many people around her.
Despite their friendship, he reportedly said that he could not save her from the problems she is currently facing because of the anger and disappointment among some people who feel affected by her actions.
Gen. Saleh reportedly claimed that one of the major issues that caused frustration was Anita Among’s decision to spend large amounts of money supporting opposition Members of Parliament to join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
He reportedly said that this was not the priority President Museveni wanted at the time. According to the claims, the focus was supposed to be on supporting government development programs and improving the country’s economy.
The report states that Gen. Saleh believed political groups within Parliament had already been weakened and managed before Anita Among became Speaker. He reportedly said there was no need to spend huge amounts of money on an issue that had already been handled.
He allegedly explained that some of the money used to influence opposition lawmakers could have been directed toward other government priorities that support citizens and national development.
Gen. Saleh reportedly compared Anita Among’s leadership approach with the expectations President Museveni had for Parliament. He said the President wanted Parliament to concentrate on supporting programs aimed at improving people’s lives.
The programs mentioned included Operation Wealth Creation, Emyooga, and the Parish Development Model, which were created to support economic growth and help communities become financially independent.
According to the reports, Gen. Saleh said that former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah had received guidance on how Parliament could work closely with the government to achieve these development goals.
He reportedly said that when Anita Among became Speaker after Oulanyah’s death, President Museveni expected her to continue with the same direction and focus on national development issues.
However, Gen. Saleh reportedly claimed that Anita Among instead focused more on building political influence through financial support to some legislators, which he said was not the main agenda expected by the President.
He reportedly said that although these political disagreements may not appear in court documents related to corruption allegations, they contributed to the loss of trust among some influential leaders.
Gen. Saleh reportedly told the delegation that Anita Among would have to face the legal process and that even powerful political connections could not stop the law from taking its course.
He advised her supporters to pray for her and ensure that she receives proper legal representation as she responds to the allegations against her.
The reports also state that Gen. Saleh said that mistakes can lead to consequences for anyone, regardless of their position or relationship with powerful leaders. He reportedly noted that even he himself had faced punishment for past mistakes.
The situation surrounding Anita Among has attracted widespread attention in Uganda, with discussions continuing about leadership, accountability, political influence, and the use of public resources.
As legal and political developments continue, many Ugandans are waiting to see how the matter will progress and what impact it may have on Anita Among’s future as a political leader.
