The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Rt. Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, has publicly criticized Speaker Anita Annet Among for her handling of the investigation into Uganda Airlines.

Ssenyonyi revealed that during the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) investigation into the airline’s operations, the Speaker directed that the proceedings be held behind closed doors, excluding journalists and the public.

In his statement, Ssenyonyi expressed strong disagreement with this directive. He argued that keeping the investigation private was unnecessary and contrary to the transparency that should accompany such inquiries.

According to Ssenyonyi, similar investigations into other entities had been conducted publicly with media access, and there was no justification for treating Uganda Airlines differently.

Ssenyonyi also criticized the Speaker for holding a meeting with the CEO of Uganda Airlines during the investigation. He questioned the appropriateness of this meeting, suggesting it may have been an attempt to influence the investigation or shield the airline from scrutiny.

Ssenyonyi asserted that these actions indicated a deliberate effort by the Speaker to cover up alleged corruption within Uganda Airlines. He claimed that the Speaker’s interference was a tactic to obstruct the investigation and hinder the exposure of potential corruption.

Letter from the Speaker

The controversy centers around a letter sent by Speaker Anita Among to the Chairperson of PAC-COSASE on August 22, 2022. In the letter, the Speaker acknowledged the progress of the COSASE inquiry but emphasized the need for a balance between accountability and business continuity.

She suggested that due to the sensitive nature of the audit queries, the investigation into Uganda Airlines should be conducted in closed sessions to prevent potential negative impacts on the airline’s operations.