Behind Closed Doors: How Sensitive Parliament Documents Were Quietly Removed in Anita Among Saga

As nightfall descended over Kampala on Monday and activity inside Uganda’s Parliament gradually thinned out, a quiet but highly consequential operation was unfolding behind closed doors. Former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among was reportedly overseeing the hurried removal of documents and personal belongings from her official chambers in what insiders now describe as one of the most extraordinary and controversial transitions in Uganda’s parliamentary history.

Multiple sources familiar with the developments told Daily Monitor that Ms Among personally supervised the movement of several boxes from the Speaker’s office at approximately 7pm, only hours after detectives raided her expansive residence in Kigo and impounded two high-end luxury vehicles, among them a controversial 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly worth about Shs3.4 billion.

According to sources close to the matter, the removal exercise was conducted quietly and allegedly outside the established parliamentary transition procedures, raising fresh alarm among investigators already probing widening corruption allegations surrounding the former Speaker and individuals within her close political circle.

Sources further indicated that a Parliament cleaner, whose identity remains undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the investigation, was instructed to transport the boxes from the Speaker’s chambers before detectives later arrived and declared the office an active crime scene tied to the ongoing anti-corruption probe.

The unfolding developments have significantly intensified scrutiny surrounding Ms Among, whose dramatic political rise — from opposition politics to occupying one of the most powerful offices in Uganda — is now increasingly overshadowed by allegations of illicit wealth accumulation, abuse of office, and possible concealment or destruction of evidence.

Investigators reportedly became suspicious after intercepting one of the cleaners carrying what state auditors allegedly described as “crucial documents” believed to be linked to the broader investigation.

That discovery, according to sources close to the probe, immediately triggered a late-night security operation at Parliament. Detectives subsequently sealed off both the Speaker’s chambers and the office of the Clerk to Parliament in an effort to secure sensitive materials and prevent any potential interference with evidence.

Authorities are said to have feared possible attempts “to destroy or tamper with evidence” as the inquiry widened into what insiders described as an expanding network involving politically connected individuals, including ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior parliamentary officials believed to have links to the outgoing Speaker.

Traditionally, the Speaker’s official office is located on the sixth floor of Parliament’s North Wing, while the Deputy Speaker operates from the fifth floor of the East Wing. However, following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah in March 2022, Ms Among — who had served as his deputy — reportedly chose to continue operating from the fifth floor even after ascending to the top parliamentary office.

Her departure now marks a dramatic political reversal for a politician who once emerged from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change before rising through Uganda’s political establishment to become one of the most influential figures within the ruling system.

As pressure mounted around the corruption allegations, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reportedly held a meeting with Ms Among at State House last week and authorised an intensified anti-corruption campaign codenamed “Operation Maliza Ufisadi” — a Swahili phrase loosely translated as “end corruption.”

The operation comes amid growing public frustration over corruption and alleged misuse of public resources within state institutions.

Official figures from the Inspectorate of Government estimate that Uganda loses between Shs9.1 trillion and Shs10 trillion annually to corruption — a figure equivalent to nearly 44 percent of the country’s domestic revenue collections.

Investigators and state auditors are now examining allegations tied to Ms Among’s wealth, properties and spending patterns as anti-graft operations intensify under Museveni’s seventh elective term, popularly branded “Kisanja No Sleep.” Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba has also publicly voiced support for aggressive anti-corruption crackdowns.

Cleaner Emerges at the Centre of the Probe

Sources said the Executive Secretary to the Speaker was allegedly not informed before the boxes were removed from the office chambers.

However, after the cleaner reportedly contacted the Executive Secretary, instructions were allegedly issued directing that all official documents remain inside the office and that the Accounting Officer — the Clerk to Parliament — be formally notified.

Neither the Executive Secretary nor Adolf Kasaija Mwesige was immediately available to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the removal of the documents and other materials.

A senior parliamentary official told Daily Monitor that established parliamentary procedure requires an outgoing Speaker to formally notify the Clerk to Parliament in writing, listing all personal belongings intended for removal from official premises.

Under standard procedure, the Clerk, working alongside the Sergeant-at-Arms, oversees and coordinates the authorised removal and transportation of personal property from the Speaker’s office to a designated residence.

The Clerk to Parliament serves as the chief executive officer of the Parliamentary Service, supervising administrative operations and procedural support to the Speaker, while the Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for parliamentary security, protocol enforcement and maintenance of order within the institution.

When asked whether Ms Among required formal authorisation to remove items from the Speaker’s office, Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore declined to provide detailed comment.

“Those are issues way beyond me now, and I do not want to make speculative statements because I know nothing,” Mr Obore said.

The developments came only hours after Ms Among officially withdrew from the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament as pressure from the widening corruption investigations intensified.

Sources said the boxes and documents removed from the Speaker’s chambers were later intercepted by detectives at one of Ms Among’s residences in Kampala later that same evening.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the contents of the seized materials, while Parliament officials have largely remained silent over the rapidly evolving situation.

Investigators are also reportedly seeking accountability for 13 official vehicles linked to the former Speaker’s office that had not yet been returned by Tuesday evening.

Sources indicated that the Clerk to Parliament is expected to formally write to Ms Among requesting the return of the vehicles and seeking clarification regarding the removal of documents from parliamentary premises.

An Unprecedented Parliamentary Transition

The dramatic developments have triggered intense debate across Uganda’s political establishment, with senior ruling party figures acknowledging that Parliament is navigating largely uncharted territory.

Emmanuel Lumala Dombo, the Director of Information and Publicity at the National Resistance Movement Secretariat, described the situation as unprecedented in Uganda’s parliamentary history.

“The times and situation have changed. During our time, Parliament was hardly a crime scene, save for suspected sexual offences,” Mr Dombo said.

He added: “There has never been a time in the history of Uganda where a transition at Parliament was conducted amidst an ongoing corruption investigation. There is, therefore, no precedent. This is now a precedent that may be referred to in the future as the first of its kind.”

Opposition Questions the Anti-Corruption Drive

Outgoing Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi sharply criticised Ms Among over the reported removal of documents during an active investigation, describing the actions as highly suspicious.

Mr Ssenyonyi accused the outgoing Speaker of engaging in what he termed “shameless attempts to hide or potentially destroy evidence.”

He also questioned the consistency and credibility of the broader anti-corruption campaign, arguing that political considerations appeared to influence who faced prosecution and who was pardoned.

“At the NRM retreat in Kyankwanzi, Gen Museveni said he had forgiven some MPs of corruption, and the charges were dropped. How do they determine who to forgive and who to prosecute?” Mr Ssenyonyi asked.

“That’s why it ought to be institutions and not individuals to take up these matters.”

But State House pushed back strongly against the criticism.

Faruk Kirunda accused opposition politicians of politicising the investigations and maintained that anti-corruption institutions were operating independently.

“Anyone suspected of corruption should be referred to the Inspectorate of Government for investigation and prosecution, as these institutions operate independently and are fully funded,” Mr Kirunda said.

As investigations continue to deepen, the dramatic political downfall of Anita Among — once regarded as one of the most powerful and politically secure figures within Uganda’s ruling establishment — is rapidly evolving into a defining national scandal whose implications could stretch far beyond Parliament and reshape the country’s political landscape for years to come.