Four Ugandan police officers have been banned from traveling to the US over human rights violations

The United States of America has imposed sanctions on four Ugandan police officers for their alleged involvement in gross human rights violations.

“The Department of State is taking action today to increase accountability for human rights violations committed in Uganda by designating four members of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) for their involvement in gross human rights violations, namely torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” the US department said in part in a Wednesday afternoon (October 2) statement.

The officers disciplined were Bob Kagarura, then UPF Regional Police Commander in Wamala; Alex Mwine, then District Police Commander of Mitanya UPF District; Elly Womanya, then Senior Commissioner of the UPF and Deputy Director of the UPF Criminal Investigations Division, in charge of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU); and Hamdani Twesigye, then Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to the SIU.

Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, Twesigye and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry to the United States, according to the U.S. Department.

“Reports that Kagarura, Mwine, Twesigye and Womanya have been involved in gross human rights violations documented in Uganda Civil Court documents, civil society organizations and independent journalists are serious and credible. By publicly naming these individuals, the United States reaffirms its commitment to advancing the human rights of all Ugandans and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations,” the statement adds in part.

The sanctions result from Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act of 2024.