The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among has spoken out on the baseless and malicious allegations of corruption and bribery on social media, saying she will not be intimidated by haters.
Anita Among has for the last few days been a victim of propaganda and blackmail following unsubstantiated social media posts that she is being probed for corruption and shady dealings and that she has fallen out with the appointing authority, President Yoweri Museveni who is reportedly planning to ditch her.
While presiding over the House on Tuesday where MPs were paying tribute to the country’s first female MP late Florence Lubega, Anita assured the public that she is not moved by the malicious propaganda. She said that the culprits who are spreading false propaganda against her are currently under investigations.
“Honourable members of Parliament I appreciate your support but in leadership, if you react in an emotional way to everything you won’t go far, as we speak now, the culprits of the blackmail are known and nothing will intimidate me,” Anita said.
Anita made reference to late Florence Lubega for breaking the first barrier to be first female MP and opened doors for women leadership and empowerment.
“The Hon Florence Lubega broke the barriers and paved the way for women empowerment as the first female MP pre and post-independence. She opened the way that is why we have a female deputy speaker now and I can assure you that I am still deputy speaker for ten years,” Anita said.
She added, “I want to ask the women leaders not to be intimidated by those who want to bring them down, please stand firm and I can assure you that I am here for ten years as deputy speaker and ten as speaker. We know the people who are doing these things and we are not moved.”
Dokolo Woman MP Cecila Ogwal reiterated that it has now become fashionable for people to troll and blackmail women who are in leadership.
“I want to understand whether that is the way of doing things in this country that you attack a leader in this institution and you act as if it is normal. I want this matter of attack on the deputy speaker to be officially investigated, this tradition must stop, we have to ask why and we cannot keep quiet. We must speak as women, we must speak out as leaders of this country because the institution of this parliament cannot be attacked and we keep quiet,” she said.
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