A section of lawyers and anti-corruption activists has formally petitioned the Inspectorate of Government, demanding an investigation into outgoing Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among over alleged violations of the Leadership Code Act.
The complaint, which was submitted to the Inspectorate’s Central Registry on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, accuses Among of either failing to declare or allegedly understating her assets, wealth, and liabilities contrary to provisions of Ugandan law.
The petition comes amid heightened public attention surrounding Among’s recently showcased Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a luxury SUV estimated to cost about Shs3.4 billion.
The group wants the Inspector General of Government, led by Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, to provide them with a copy of Among’s asset declaration, if it exists, so they can assess whether she complied with the requirements of the law.
The petition was endorsed by Andrew Karamagi, Mercy Munduru, Kato Tumusiime, Gift Grace Achilla, Praise Aloikin, and Godwin Toko.
In their submission, the activists cited Section 22 of the Leadership Code Act, arguing that they are entitled to request access to the declaration records. They maintain that there are grounds to suspect that some assets may not have been fully disclosed.
Kato Tumusiime, one of the complainants, said the group independently chose to file the petition because they believe there could have been under-declaration of assets.
The petitioners further referenced Section 21 of the Leadership Code Act, Chapter 33, noting that violations of the law attract serious administrative sanctions, including dismissal or demotion from office and forfeiture of undeclared assets to the state.
Another petitioner, Gift Grace Achilla, insisted the move should not be interpreted as a political attack, saying the action is part of a broader campaign against corruption and abuse of public office.
Among has previously rejected accusations of financial misconduct, describing them as politically driven attempts to tarnish her image.
The activists, however, said they are prepared to cooperate with investigators to ensure the matter is handled professionally and transparently.
Uganda’s Leadership Code Act requires public officials to declare their assets and liabilities every two years, with declarations submitted in March. According to the Inspectorate of Government, the latest declaration exercise was concluded in 2025.
Inspectorate spokesperson Muniira Ali said that, to the best of her knowledge, Among submitted her declaration and that the records are held by the Inspectorate.
Muniira explained that access to declarations by third parties is subject to legal procedures and may only be granted after the Inspector General of Government reviews the reasons presented by applicants.
She added that the Inspectorate can also initiate verification proceedings whenever members of the public provide information suggesting that a leader concealed assets or liabilities. In such cases, officials compare the allegations against the submitted declaration before determining whether a formal investigation is necessary.
The law provides penalties for false declarations or concealment of property, including forfeiture of any undeclared assets.
Although access to leaders’ declarations has traditionally been restricted to protect privacy and security, transparency advocates scored a major victory in 2024 when the Constitutional Court struck down parts of the Leadership Code Act limiting public access to such records.
The court ruled that Sections 11(2) and 11(4) of the Act were inconsistent with constitutional protections under Articles 21(1), 29(1), 41(1), and 43(c).
However, the judges upheld provisions under Sections 7(2) and 7(9), allowing individuals acting in good faith to apply for access to declaration information upon payment of the required fee.
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