In a dramatic twist in Uganda’s political discourse, Parliament has strongly dismissed a viral audio recording circulating on social media, allegedly featuring Speaker Anita Among criticizing President Yoweri Museveni’s recent apology to the Baganda community.
The audio, which sparked heated debate across X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and TikTok, portrays a voice resembling the Speaker’s, expressing outrage over Museveni’s public apology — a rare gesture made by both him and First Lady Janet Museveni regarding past wrongs committed against the Baganda people.
Explosive Allegations in the Audio
In the purported call, the speaker’s voice goes beyond critiquing the Baganda apology. She allegedly accuses the President of:
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Committing atrocities in other regions, particularly in Teso and Karamoja
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Being behind the burning of a train carrying passengers in Teso
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Orchestrating the killing of nearly 1,000 people near Soroti University
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Using Banyarwanda loyalists to steal cattle from the Karimojong, contributing to poverty and hunger in the northeast
The clip has stirred ethnic and regional sensitivities, prompting many to question its authenticity, especially given the gravity of the claims.
Parliament Responds Swiftly: “Fake and Unfounded”
The Parliament of Uganda took to social media to set the record straight, “We have been made aware of an audio clip circulating on social media, attributed to the Rt Hon. Speaker @AnitahAmong. The clip is fake and unfounded. We urge the public to disregard this fake content aimed to spread hate and misinformation.”
The Parliament’s response labels the recording as disinformation, calling on citizens to remain vigilant against malicious content designed to incite hate and destabilize national unity.
Context: The Rise of Political Disinformation
This incident follows a pattern of digital propaganda, particularly targeting high-profile figures in government. Opposition supporters, especially from the National Unity Platform (NUP), have previously been accused of leveraging deepfakes and false audios to sway public opinion.
The surge in such attacks has reignited debates around cybercrime laws, with calls to tighten digital content regulation in Uganda.
Parliament’s Warning to Citizens
Ugandan authorities urge the public not to be misled by fabricated content and to avoid sharing unverified media that may contribute to social unrest. The Speaker herself has not issued a personal comment on the matter as of this publication.
