Former Speaker Anita Among makes first virtual House appearance after 83-Day public absence

Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among attends her first Parliament plenary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on August 4, 2026.

Troubled former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among on Tuesday made her first public appearance in 83 days, attending a parliamentary plenary session virtually via Zoom.

The session was chaired by her former deputy and current Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa. Although Ms. Among did not actively participate in the debate, her virtual presence significantly reduces her risk of losing her Bukedea District Woman Representative seat over absenteeism.

Under Article 83(1)(d) of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, any legislator who misses 15 consecutive sittings without written permission from the Speaker faces the loss of their parliamentary seat. The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige, recently emphasized this requirement during the 12th Parliament orientation, noting that members must obtain prior written approval or provide a satisfactory explanation to the relevant parliamentary committee for any absence.

As of August 4, the 12th Parliament had conducted 12 sittings—including major events such as the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the State of the Nation Address, and committee designations—all of which Ms. Among had missed.

Video footage and photo grabs from Tuesday’s session showed Ms. Among appearing alongside other legislators. Background details, including wall curtains beside windows, suggested she attended the sitting from a private residence or an enclosed location.

Her appearance comes amid reports that she has been under house arrest since May 16, following a security raid on her Nakasero-based residence. Ms. Among, who led the 11th Parliament, became the subject of joint security and Inspectorate of Government (IGG) investigations shortly after taking her oath for the new term, following allegations of widespread corruption and illicit enrichment.

The independent probes, sanctioned by President Museveni and executed by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, began with the Nakasero raid and were followed by searches at her Munyonyo home and her office at Parliament. Security agencies also impounded several of her high-end vehicles, including a newly acquired Shs3.4 billion Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Although the IGG concluded its investigation and submitted findings to the President, Ms. Among has not yet been charged in court.

Meanwhile, seven parliamentary staff members suspected of involvement in related schemes were arrested, charged before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court with self-enrichment and causing financial loss, and subsequently interdicted. They include Chris Obore (Director of Communications and Public Affairs), Daniel Adilo (Director of Human Resources), Rajab Kaaya Semalulu (Principal Research Officer), Okwi Emmanuel Emuron (Principal Protocol Officer), Vincent Otebata (Capacity Development Officer), Leonard Okema (Executive Secretary, Office of the Speaker), and Stella Itute (Office Supervisor, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms).

Parliamentary officials clarified that virtual attendance is permissible under House regulations. The Acting Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Ms. Grace Gidudu, explained that the Rules of Procedure allow legislators to attend sittings remotely. She noted that a Zoom link is created and shared, allowing any MP who wishes to attend virtually the liberty to do so.

Virtual proceedings were formally integrated into parliamentary operations during the ninth Parliament in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules were amended following directives from then-Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to enable Parliament to conduct business remotely via designated digital platforms.

However, Rule 250(4) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure stipulates that virtual participation requires official authorization, stating that participation from outside the Chamber through a digital platform only takes effect upon a proclamation or authorization by the Speaker.

It remains unclear whether Ms. Among obtained formal clearance from the Speaker to attend Tuesday’s session online. When contacted, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige declined to comment on the matter, while Defense Minister and former Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth could not be reached by press time.