““If there was any diversion, it is not anybody’s fault, I saw iron sheets in Bukedea, I didn’t ask for them, but I ordered that they should be given to schools innocently. I didn’t open a shop to sell them, but they were given to government schools.” Among told Parliament last month. While chairing Wednesday’s plenary, Among told Parliament that she had decided to purchase 500 iron sheets and return them to the OPM to clear her name out of accusations that she had diverted the iron sheets meant for Karamoja’s vulnerable people. “l don’t want to be accused of grabbing iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.” Among said” (Samuel Muhimba – ‘Among buys 500 iron sheets for OPM to save ‘innocent’ face’ 15.03.2023, Nilepost.co.ug).
The Speaker can all “innocent” she wants to try to save face. Speaker Anita Among is amongst a “den of thieves”. They did divert funds and equipment meant for the hungry, the poor and the ones in need in the Karamoja sub-region. Instead of going where it should be… it ended up elsewhere and some of that ended up in the hands of the speaker. She is just like the rest of them.
Speaker Among can act holier than thou, but she should apologize and “carry the cross”. This is her burden to bear. She accepted the iron sheets and took them when it was done in secret. However, when the reality hit public, and the scandal was official. She wanted to clean her hands of the dirt and come clean. Nevertheless, that is not how the story goes and she cannot reimburse what she has already stolen.
A chicken thief must answer for the stolen chicken. The speaker has to answer for the iron-sheets. The chicken thief will face the penalty and the punishment for taking the chicken. The same should happen to the speaker, the ministers and everyone involved in the iron sheet scandal of Karamoja. It should happen, but I wouldn’t count on it. The difference between them and the chicken thief. Is that the Chicken Thief has no suction, no power or influence, but the thieves in this saga does…
She knows she will face no consequences and what her master knows is that she’s corruptible. Meaning that her master can wave some monies or golden tickets her way. When doing so, she will do whatever he pleases and get his way in Parliament. That’s why she will face no trouble, no legal jeopardy or even taste “justice”. No, the chicken thief will linger in prison and face severe time in prison. While the Speaker can steal and take from the state with no further consequences or ramifications to her career. No, it doesn’t cost her anything…
Speaker Among can try to save face, but it’s pointless. She still stole and took unjustifiably so. The iron sheets wasn’t hers to begin with. Just like the others who took from the “aid” to Karamoja. All of them are thieves and they should accept that. Thieving is thieving no matter how you put it. It wasn’t even that sophisticated or a strategic measure to siphon funds from government accounts either. It was just blatant theft of government property to personal use. That’s it… and the Speaker cannot be run away from that now. Peace.
MinBane 