The U.S. Department of State has announced sanctions against five current and former Ugandan officials due to their involvement in significant corruption and gross violations of human rights. This action was revealed by Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, showing the U.S. commitment to addressing corruption and human rights abuses globally. Among those sanctioned is Anita Among, […]
The U.S. Department of State has announced sanctions against five current and former Ugandan officials due to their involvement in significant corruption and gross violations of human rights.
This action was revealed by Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, showing the U.S. commitment to addressing corruption and human rights abuses globally.
Among those sanctioned is Anita Among, Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, who has been designated for her involvement in significant corruption linked to her leadership role.
Former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu, and Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi have also been designated for their misuse of public resources and diversion of materials intended for Uganda’s most vulnerable communities.
The officials are accused of abusing their positions for personal gain at the expense of the Ugandan people.
Additionally, Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has been sanctioned for his role in gross human rights violations. Elwelu is specifically implicated in extrajudicial killings carried out by the UPDF under his command. As a result of these actions, the designated officials and their immediate family members are now generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
The sanctions also extend to the spouses of the designated Ugandan officials. Those affected are:Moses Magogo Hassim, spouse of Anita Among, Michael George Kitutu, spouse of Mary Goretti Kitutu and Evelyne Nakimera, spouse of Amos Lugolobi.
They are also generally ineligible for entry into the United States as part of the sanctions.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to impose visa restrictions on multiple other Ugandan officials who have allegedly undermined the democratic process and repressed marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda. These individuals are held responsible for the repression of political opposition groups, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities.
The U.S. Department of State’s actions are taken under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, and Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, expanded under a policy by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December 2023.
This move signifies the U.S. stance alongside Ugandans advocating for democratic principles, governmental accountability, and the protection of human rights.
