US cancels Speaker Anita Among’s visa; UK to follow suit

Addressing press on Monday May 29th, shortly after confirmation of the Presidential assent to the law, Bugiri MP Hon Asuman Basalirwa who moved 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.”

The Embassy further advised Hon Among to forward her passport through the Ministry of Finance, so they could make the necessary modifications to her visa.

According to Hon 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.