Kampala, Uganda – The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, has acquired a brand new Rolls-Royce Cullinan 2025 model, sparking intense public debate and scrutiny over the source and timing of the ultra-luxury vehicle.
According to reports by Weekend Monitor, the high-end SUV, airlifted from the United Kingdom last month, has a base value of approximately £440,000 (around Shs2.2 billion). When import taxes, freight, and clearance charges are factored in, the total cost is estimated to approach Shs3.4 billion or even higher. The vehicle was reportedly handled by Albeity Limited, the same UK-based firm involved in the controversial 2022 procurement of luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the Speaker and her deputy.
In a conference call that included Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki, Speaker Among confirmed ownership of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan but firmly stated that she did not purchase it herself. “It was a birthday gift,” she told the publication.
Official records show that Among was born on November 23, 1973. It remains unclear whether the vehicle was a belated gift for her previous birthday or an early one ahead of her next. She reportedly told officials that her “bosses” were aware of the gift and her passion for cars.
The development has ignited mixed reactions across the country. While some view it as a personal matter and a symbol of success, critics have raised questions about the optics of such opulence, especially amid ongoing economic challenges facing ordinary Ugandans. The timing has also drawn attention, coming shortly after Parliament passed legislation aimed at tracing sources of large external funds.
URA sources indicated that taxes amounting to about Shs1.2 billion were levied on the vehicle. Speaker Among is said to have made an initial payment and entered an arrangement to clear the balance in installments. The matter surfaced amid unverified claims circulating on social media regarding the tax paid.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is renowned worldwide as one of the most luxurious SUVs, favored by royalty, billionaires, celebrities, and top athletes. It features a powerful twin-turbo V12 engine, advanced air suspension, cutting-edge driver assistance systems, and opulent interiors. Owners include global figures such as King Charles III, Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, and various Bollywood stars and international sports personalities.
This latest acquisition adds to Among’s fleet of high-end vehicles and comes as political discourse heats up ahead of the race for leadership positions in the 12th Parliament. Among and her husband, Moses Magogo, were sanctioned by the UK and US in 2024 over alleged links to the Karamoja iron sheets scandal, though the sanctions do not prevent receipt of such gifts.
As Ugandans continue to discuss the story on social media and in public forums, questions linger about transparency, leadership accountability, and the gap between public servants and the citizens they represent. Speaker Among has dismissed much of the commentary as politically motivated attempts to tarnish her image.
TrendingUg.com will continue to monitor developments on this story.