John AdoyiThe U.S. State Department announced on Thursday the imposition of sanctions on Uganda’s House Speaker, a former deputy army chief, and three other former and current Ugandan officials for their roles in corruption and “gross human rights violations” taking place in the East African country.
The State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced that the officials, including House Speaker Anita Among, former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Peter Elwelu, 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, are now barred from entering the United States.
The United States emphasized its support for Ugandan citizens advocating good governance and a corruption-free society. “Impunity allows corrupt officials to stay in power, slows the pace of development, facilitates crime, and causes unequal distribution of resources, which can affect underrepresented and underserved populations disproportionately,” the State Department stated, justifying the sanctions.
Parliament Speaker, Anita Among, 50, was specifically sanctioned “due to involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership” of Uganda’s national assembly, according to the State Department. This new sanction against Speaker Among follows a similar action by the United Kingdom government last April, which resulted in the freezing of her assets in London. Speaker Among has been under investigation for allegedly misusing parliamentary property and possessing financial holdings and assets from unknown sources.
In response to the sanctions, Among claimed she is being targeted for her role in the anti-gay bill that has caused Uganda to be sidelined by Western nations.
READ ALSO: US Govt Announces New Visa Ban On Ugandan Officials Amid Human Right Concerns
The three ministers were sanctioned “due to their involvement in significant corruption related to conduct that misused public resources and diverted materials from Uganda’s neediest communities.” The State Department’s statement highlighted that “all four officials abused their public positions for their benefit at the expense of Ugandans.”
READ ALSO: Music Producer Rexxie Calls For Help Following Arrest In Uganda
Meanwhile, General Peter Elwelu was sanctioned for gross human rights violations. The statement detailed that Elwelu, while commanding UPDF forces, was involved in extrajudicial killings committed by UPDF members. The State Department also indicated that other Ugandan government officials would be sanctioned “for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda.”
The sanctions underscore the U.S. commitment to holding accountable those who engage in corruption and human rights abuses, standing in solidarity with the people of Uganda who seek justice and equitable governance.
Uganda hits back at US over sanctions
In another development, the Ugandan authorities on Friday objected to new U.S. sanctions over what the United States calls significant corruption and gross human rights violations, saying the sanctions target parliament Speaker Anita Among and other officials who backed the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Law.
On Thursday, the U.S. State Department placed travel and financial sanctions on Among for what it called significant corruption tied to her leadership position.
Others sanctioned were ministers Amos Lugolobi, Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Gitutu for allegedly misusing public resources and diverting materials from Uganda’s neediest communities.
Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Oryem Okello argued that all the ministers who were sanctioned are currently facing Ugandan courts of law, which have yet to find rule on the cases.
The sanctions also target Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu for his role in clashes between Ugandan security forces and a local militant group that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.
However, Okello said the U.S. government’s action is really targeting Among.
“My belief is that this is an insult and undermines our judicial system,” Okello said.
“The sanctions are unjust. They are punitive,” he said. “They are bullish because they know that we cannot do anything against it. And it’s just deliberate to punish the speaker for her role and leadership to fight LBGTQ and homosexuality in Uganda.”
The U.S. State Department said it stands with Ugandans advocating for democratic principles, a government that delivers for all its citizens and accountability for actions committed by those who abuse their positions through corruption and gross violations of human rights.
