The United States government has banned at least four senior police officers from Uganda from entering the country due to their involvement in gross human rights violations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that these officers were implicated in serious and credible violations documented by Ugandan civil court records, civil society organizations, and independent journalists.
The ban also extends to their immediate family members.
The individuals affected by this ban include:
- Bob Kagarura: Former Regional Police Commander of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) for the Wamala region.
- Alex Mwine: Former District Police Commander for Mitanya District of the UPF.
- Elly Womanya: Former Senior Commissioner within the UPF and Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Division, overseeing the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
- Hamdani Twesigye: Former Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to the SIU.
Miller’s statement clarified that, as a result of this action, Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, Twesigye, and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
However, the statement did not specify when the alleged human rights violations occurred.
Reaffirming the U.S. commitment to advancing human rights for all Ugandans, Miller underscored the importance of holding accountable those responsible for such violations.
He noted that some of the designated officers have since retired from their positions or have been reassigned to new roles within the police force.
This latest action follows previous U.S. sanctions against other Ugandan officials, including former Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura, former head of the Chieftaincy of Military Police Major General Abel Kanduho, and the current Commissioner-General of the Uganda Prisons Service, Johnson Byabashaija.
These measures reflect ongoing U.S. efforts to promote human rights and accountability in Uganda.
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