Embattled road safety officer in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ronald Amanyire, has raised fresh questions over the ongoing scrutiny of former Speaker Anita Among, arguing that the investigations risk appearing selective and politically influenced.
His remarks come amid sustained public and institutional pressure on Among over alleged corruption and misuse of public resources.
In a statement, Amanyire questioned why former Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has not faced similar scrutiny, despite serving alongside Among during the 11th Parliament.
He argued that the two offices operate as a single constitutional unit, making it difficult to separate responsibility in matters concerning parliamentary leadership.
“It is difficult for any independent observer to ignore the regional undertones in the NRM’s decision. The contrast in treatment is too obvious,” Amanyire stated.
“No one has raised a single allegation against Thomas Tayebwa, yet even the most charitable reading would place him within the same system of irregular allowances and inducements.”
Amanyire further drew parallels between the Speaker-Deputy Speaker relationship and that of the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice, insisting that accountability should not be applied selectively.
According to him, isolating one officeholder while sparing another undermines the credibility of anti-corruption efforts.
The road safety officer also challenged the basis upon which Among’s lifestyle has become a focal point of investigation.
He noted that President Yoweri Museveni had previously weakened efforts by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to introduce lifestyle audits, effectively downplaying their role in fighting corruption.
“A lavish lifestyle is not, by itself, an offence,” Amanyire said. “If lifestyle audits are not relevant, why is Among’s lifestyle suddenly a matter of urgent concern?”
He went on to argue that similar or even more questionable lifestyles exist across the civil service, yet remain largely unexamined.
This, he said, reinforces a growing perception that enforcement is not guided by principle, but by political or regional considerations.
“Across the civil service, there are dozens of officials whose lifestyles can raise far more serious questions, yet no one is pursuing them,” he added. “The pattern of selective scrutiny is unmistakable.”
Amanyire’s comments are likely to intensify debate around the handling of corruption allegations within government, particularly as critics continue to demand transparency and consistency.