BASALIRWA ROARS AS US, UK CANCEL SPEAKER ANITA AMONG’S VISA OVER ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY LAW

By Yasiin Sserwanja

The Government of the United States and that of the United Kingdom have revoked the travel visa of Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anitah Among. The move is in retaliation over the Ugandan Parliament’s passing of Anti-Homosexualtiy Bill (2023), under Hon Among’s stewardship.

The speaker was one of the leaders who spoke fearlessly and as she spearheaded the process of passing the bill that has since been signed into law by President Yoweri Mseveni.

Speaking to reporters this Monday morning following the news of the passing of the new law, Bugiri MP Hon Asuman Basalirwa who tabled the Bill back in March 2023, revealed that the US Embassy in Kampala had written to Speaker Among about her visa cancellation.

The MP read out to journalists an email from the Embassy, which goes in part; “…Dear Madam Speaker, the United States Government has revoked your current visa on information that became available after your last issuance. As of May 12th you don’t possess a valid travel visa to the US, although you are welcome to apply again.”

“You are hereby advised to forward her passport through the Ministry of Finance, so that we can make the necessary modifications to your visa,” the embassy wrote.

According to Basalirwa, the UK government is also in the process of canceling the Speaker’s visa, along with other Members of Parliament. “I think they were looking for my Visa for the US and they didn’t find it, so the first victim is the Speaker,” he said.

In a statement this morning while announcing the new law, Speaker Among praised Parliament for heeding ‘the concerns of our people’ and protecting the “sanctity of family.”

“I thank His Excellency, the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his steadfast action in the interest of Ugandans. With a lot of humility, I thank my colleague Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure, in the interest of our Country,” she said.

But as the western countries commence retaliation in the wake of the law, Hon Basalirwa says he and his colleagues will not be moved. “If in their wisdom they dont want us in our country, it is their right…I personally will not begrudge any embassy for canceling any person’s visa, “he said.

Basalirwa however, challenged the US, UK, Canada and other countries to sanction everyone who was involved in passing the new law, starting with President Museveni. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).