An embattled senior official in Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport, Ronald Amanyire, has publicly weighed in on the widening controversy surrounding alleged illicit financial transactions linked to former Speaker Anita Among, offering a detailed and highly charged account of how money allegedly moved through government-linked channels.
Amanyire, who is already under scrutiny in unrelated administrative matters, described a system in which large sums of money were reportedly transferred through individuals within public service structures, including officials who were not necessarily from the lowest ranks of government.
“She was very generous,” Amanyire claimed, while describing what he said were irregular financial arrangements. “I know someone paid no more than 50 million shillings for 894 million. And this was not to a cleaner or driver but to an officer at the same level who was from the wrong region compared to the orchestrator of the theft.”
The remarks, which could not be independently verified, have added a new layer of political sensitivity to an already contentious investigation that has drawn in parliamentary staff, banking officials, and senior government figures.
Amanyire further argued that Uganda’s legal framework allows for the prosecution of corruption cases at any time, regardless of when the alleged offences occurred, citing provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act.
“In Uganda, corruption offences have no statute of limitations — they can be prosecuted at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. The Anti-Corruption Act (2009, as amended) explicitly empowers the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate and prosecute corruption without any time restriction,” he said.
His comments come at a time when investigators are reportedly examining complex financial trails allegedly involving parliamentary-linked accounts, procurement processes, and coordinated transactions across government departments.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the scope of the probe or the individuals under formal investigation.
In a striking turn, Amanyire also issued a defiant statement suggesting he was prepared for further disciplinary action, even as he referenced previous sanctions against him.
“They might as well interdict me again. To my recollection the total was UGX 4,552,368,000. I am submitting this too, if I die I die. My son died,” he said, without providing additional context to the emotional reference.
The statement has raised further questions about the internal tensions within government institutions, with analysts noting the increasingly personal and politically charged nature of corruption allegations circulating in public discourse.
Anti-corruption watchdogs in Uganda have in recent years intensified efforts to track illicit financial flows, particularly within public procurement systems.
However, enforcement has often been complicated by institutional overlap, political sensitivities, and allegations of selective accountability.