In 2024, Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka, filed a private prosecution in the Chief Magistrate’s Court at the Anti-Corruption Division against Speaker Anita Annet Among.
Mabirizi alleged that Among was engaged in money laundering given the number of properties and other items like vehicles that the speaker owned.
Among had just hosted several MPs at her palatial home in Bukedea leaving many people in awe. There had also been reports that she owned a property in the United Kingdom.
The Chief Magistrates Court refered Mabirizi’s complaint to police for investigation. But before the police could finalise the investigation, Mabirizi filed an application seeking to compel the Inspector General of Government seeking to know all the assets owned by the speaker.
On December 6, 2024, the police released its report which did not find any prima facie evidence of the offence of money laundering. The IGG said it could not follow through with Mabirizi’s complaint since he had not disclosed any specific offence in his complaint.
The chief magistrates court on Febraury 25, 2025 dismissed the case.
Not satisfied with the ruling, Mabirizi appealed to the High Court, arguing that the Chief Magistrate had erred by among others: relying on a police report not availed to him, by denying him an opportunity to respond to it, and by disposing of his applications prematurely.
The case was handed to Justice Lawrence Gidudu. Gidudu reviewed the ruling of the Chief Magistrate and he, too, dimissed the appeal.
Gidudu said the offence of money laundering is a technical offence requiring sophisticated investigations beyond the competence of a private prosecutor.
“It is not appropriate to engage a Magistrate in the investigation process of a criminal offence and then expect such a Magistrate to be neutral during the trial. There should be an elaborate law for that to happen otherwise allegations of bias would arise. A court should try cases investigated by other agencies and not by itself unless a specific law provides so,” Gidudu said.
