Fresh revelations surrounding Speaker Anita Among’s controversial Rolls-Royce Cullinan have triggered heated debate across Uganda after claims emerged that President Yoweri Museveni personally approved her decision to receive the luxury vehicle.
The explosive details were revealed by veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda spokesperson Andrew Mwenda during a heated appearance on NBS Frontline on Thursday night.
According to Mwenda, Anita Among first consulted President Museveni after being informed that she would receive the ultra-luxury vehicle as a gift.
Mwenda claimed the President not only allowed her to accept the car but even offered to facilitate its clearance into the country.
“When someone gave Anita Among that Rolls-Royce, she asked Museveni whether she should accept it, and he gave her the go-ahead,” Mwenda revealed during the televised discussion.
The shocking claims have completely changed public discussion surrounding the controversial vehicle, which had previously sparked widespread accusations that taxpayer money had been used to finance the expensive purchase.
For months, critics and opposition figures attacked Among after images of the luxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan surfaced online, with many questioning how a public servant could afford such an extravagant vehicle.
The car quickly became a national symbol of wealth, privilege, and alleged corruption at the highest levels of Parliament.
Reports now indicate that controversial businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, was the person who gifted the vehicle to Anita Among.
The revelation has generated even more controversy because of Hamis Kiggundu’s previous dealings with government agencies and infrastructure projects in Kampala.
Critics argue that even if the car was gifted, serious ethical questions remain about the relationship between wealthy businessmen and powerful public officials.
Observers have particularly pointed to Among’s past support for Hamis Kiggundu during disputes involving the Nakivubo Channel redevelopment project in Kampala.
At one point, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) had reportedly halted parts of Ham’s activities around the Nakivubo drainage channel, but Among allegedly intervened in ways that later favored the businessman.
Since then, many Kampala residents and political commentators have blamed poor drainage planning and construction around Nakivubo for worsening floods in parts of downtown Kampala.
Despite Mwenda’s defense of Anita Among regarding the Rolls-Royce, the outgoing Speaker remains under heavy investigation over broader corruption allegations and abuse of office claims.
Security agencies have already raided several of her properties, while reports indicate that some of her assets and bank accounts have been frozen as investigations continue.
The political pressure eventually forced Among to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, ending what many believed would have been another powerful term at the helm of Parliament.
Sources close to the investigations say she has since agreed to cooperate fully with authorities as anti-corruption operations intensify.
Meanwhile, the revelation that Museveni allegedly approved the Rolls-Royce gift has divided public opinion, with some arguing that it weakens accusations that public funds bought the vehicle.
Others, however, insist that the issue goes beyond who paid for the car and instead raises larger concerns about gifts, influence, and the relationship between wealthy businessmen and top government officials.
Political analysts say the controversy reflects Uganda’s growing public anger over luxury lifestyles displayed by political leaders while many citizens continue struggling with unemployment, poor healthcare, and rising living costs.
For now, Anita Among remains at the center of one of Uganda’s biggest political scandals, with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan continuing to symbolize the intense scrutiny surrounding power, wealth, and corruption in the country’s leadership circles.
About the Author
