The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among will fly to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis in August.
The purpose of Among’s meeting with the Pope is unknown but according to correspondences seen by Bbeg Media, the speaker requested for a private audience in March.
The Vatican, through Uganda’s Head of Mission in Berlin, Stephen Mubiru confirmed that the meeting had been granted. It will be held on Saturday August 24, 2024. We have been told that Among opted to go through Berlin after Italy rejected her visa application following the UK sanctions. She is banking on getting a Shengen Visa that will allow her a short stay in Vatican.
Ambassador Mubiru’s letter on Among’s private audience with Pope Francis
Among has been requested to furnish the Vatican with the address of the place where she will be residing and a list of the people who will accompany her.
She will be received by Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the secretary of state for the pope. It will be the second time Among will be meeting Pope Francis in the last one year having done so in July 2023.
Yet the upcoming meeting could not have come at a better time for Among.
The last couple of months have tough for the speaker.
On May 30, the US government slapped sanctions on her over allegations of corruption and violation of human rights. She is banned from travelling there. In April, the UK government did the same and froze her properties.
At home, President Museveni has instructed the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to probe allegations that Among owns properties in the United Kingdom
