The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among posted how she hosted popular American Christian singer, Travis Greene at her private residence. But the response from enraged Ugandans was nothing short of resentment.
They chose to address the elephant in the room – morality – instead.
Travis Greene has been in Uganda for almost a week now. He headlined a concert dubbed Make a Joyful Noise at the Lugogo Cricket Oval on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Speaker took to her X page to share photos and videos of herself and friends sharing a light moment with the singer famed for his hit song Made A Way.
In one of the videos, they are singing one of the popular Nigerian Christian praises.
Speaker Among wrote that it was an honor to host the singer and that she is grateful to God for his mercies.
On X, she quoted Mathew 18:19-20 writing… “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
She also shared a video showing the singer holding her hands and praying for her.
Greene thanked God for the Speaker’s generous heart. For her glass to always be full and that no weapon formed against her should prosper.
The responses quickly focused on the Speaker’s conduct in public office, with many reminding her that she has no moral authority to play the Christianity card, especially at a time when her name is sucked into corruption allegations, contrary to the values that Christianity teaches.
Many would argue she failed at reading the room. She should have seen this feedback coming. Otherwise, she comes off as a leader who is outright tone-deaf.
The social platform where she gloated over her private meeting with the celebrity is the same platform on which leaked documents pointing to her office’s ridiculous allowances and abuse of public funds, were recently shared.
The documents indicated that Among spent Shs 3bn in foreign travel within a six-month period.
In addition, a group of activists shared data indicating that between February 8, 2023, and April 17, 2023, a staffer at Parliament, received a staggering Shs 2 billion for the Speaker’s activities, most of which are private.
For example, the documents show that on June 13, 2023, the said staffer picked Ushs 130 million from the bank on behalf of Among for ‘garments to facilitate the Speaker’s outreach activities in Eastern Uganda’.’ The following month, she was allegedly advanced Shs 750 million for a community’s empowerment workshop in Bukedea, where she serves as Woman MP.
The controversy has revived the debate about a Parliament that has become increasingly interested in securing as many perks for itself while caring less about the quality of life for the rest of Ugandans, in a country where 30 percent of the population are poor (unable to afford $1.9 a day).
The allegations cite abuse of office, illegal recruitment of staff, and questionable expenditure at the current Parliament where appropriations are made with no audits done to ascertain how the monies were spent.
Mid-last year, there was public uproar after it was revealed that government had procured new cars (Mercedes Benz S500L 2022) for the Speaker and her deputy, with each of the two luxurious cars quoted at Ushs 1.2bn. Never mind that Among already owned a private car of similar make (Mercedes Benz S500).
Six months prior, she had added another luxurious car (a 2023 Range Rover Vogue) to her fleet. The Range Rover is valued at Ushs 1.2bn. At the time she unveiled this SUV at Parliament, a month hadn’t elapsed since she gifted her husband, Moses Magogo, a brand new vehicle (Range Rover 2019) that costs about Ushs 800 million.
Among’s penchant for a lavish lifestyle is no secret. If anyone had doubts about how much of a soft lifer she is, last year’s unveiling of her palatial country home in Bukedea in Eastern Uganda, rested it all.
Amidst the online rage prompted by the Speaker’s post about Travis Greene, some made reference to other aspects of her lifestyle, particularly her wardrobe. X users have been sharing photos of some of her dresses said to cost an arm and a leg. One of them is a White Flippy Wiggle Dress which costs £2,790 (Ushs 13.9m) at Luxury women’s wear boutique, Suzannah London.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales was spotted wearing the same dress at the Grenfell Tower memorial service in London in June 2022.
So, when she gloats about her exclusive meeting with a celebrity, some see it as abuse of her influence. In fact, some sarcastically asked whether the government will be paying her per diem for this visit. But what’s the point of influence if not to be used?
Why does the Speaker have to subject herself to the coldness and inconvenience of sitting through a concert in an open field when she has the means to access a singer exclusively? You know, the same way MTN Uganda Chairman, Charles Mbire, back in 2004 commissioned Bobi Wine and Juliana Kanyomozi to write a song (Mama Mbire) for his mom as she made 70. That’s what influence does.
It’s not clear whether Among’s was an attempt by her handlers to try and sanitize her. It could also simply be a way of the Speaker to prove her soft life isn’t about to come to a standstill just because of some scandal. One also wonders whether the singer’s team considered the optics and the timing of such a gesture.
COMMENTS
“Another CSR activity. We shall soon find out how much this cost us, the tax payers” – @MrBusingye
“So, Jesus visited Zachaeus’ house today, huh 🤔.Will Zachaeus return all that she has stolen from the poor people like she did with iron sheets of the poor people of Karamoja?” – @SCKagaba
“Shameless politicians , where do u get the courage to appear religious with the ongoing heist under ur watch . It’s total theft of public funds under ur leadership” – @Burg256
“Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the HYPOCRITES . For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward” – @jokatabs.
“Did you tell him about the disappearance of the Iron sheets meant for the poor and the rampart misuse of funds in your office currently on social media?” – @OldGorilla_
“So this was signed for under entertainment allowance?” – @aloysius_odong
