U.S Sanctions Parliament Speaker and others for Corruption and Human Rights Violations
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State has announced sanctions against five current and former Ugandan officials, citing their involvement in significant corruption and gross violations of human rights. Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller revealed the designations in a statement on Thursday.
Corruption Allegations
Among those designated is Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, accused of significant corruption linked to her leadership role in Uganda’s Parliament. Joining her are 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. These officials are implicated in misusing public resources and diverting materials intended for Uganda’s most vulnerable communities. The Department of State asserts that all four abused their positions for personal gain at the expense of the Ugandan populace.
Human Rights Violations
Peter Elwelu, the former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), is also designated due to his involvement in gross human rights violations. The Department highlighted Elwelu’s role in commanding UPDF forces responsible for extrajudicial killings, marking a severe breach of human rights standards.
Visa Restrictions
As a result of these actions, the designated officials and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States. This includes spouses Moses Magogo Hassim, Michael George Kitutu, and Evelyne Nakimera.
Additionally, the Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on several other Ugandan officials accused of undermining the democratic process and repressing marginalized or vulnerable populations. These measures are aimed at individuals responsible for, or complicit in, the repression of political opposition, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities within Uganda.
U.S. Commitment to Accountability
The Department of State’s actions underscore the United States’ commitment to supporting democratic principles, transparency, and accountability in Uganda. The statement emphasized that impunity for corrupt officials impedes development, facilitates crime, and causes the unequal distribution of resources, disproportionately affecting underrepresented and underserved populations.
Legislative Basis
These public designations were made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47). The visa restrictions are being imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, following a policy expansion by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December 2023.
