Reminder of US sanctions for overzealous security officials – Bobi Wine

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.

Some of the appointed officers left the service or were transferred and appointed to new positions. The statement did not indicate when the alleged human rights violations occurred.

However, National Unity Platform (NUP) director Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine said the sanctions are a reminder to all overzealous senior, middle and lower level security officials that they will be held individually accountable for the crimes they commit against citizens.

“Among other crimes, these four will be remembered for their roles in the brutal torture of Francis Zaake, as confirmed by the High Court. As always, despite the overwhelming evidence against them, the regime protected and even promoted them! These sanctions are another reminder that the wheels of justice may come slowly, but they will come eventually. They also remind all overzealous senior, middle and junior security officers that they will be held individually accountable for the crimes they have committed against the people of Uganda. We are very grateful to the United States government for continuing to listen to the pleas of the people of Uganda regarding those who violate rights with impunity and remain untouchable by captured institutions in Uganda,” Mr. Kyagulanyi wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

This round of sanctions adds to the growing list of Ugandan government officials, including senior officers of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Prisons Service, who have been slapped with visa bans for alleged human rights violations, and others have faced financial sanctions over claims of economic crimes.

The list includes former Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura, Major General Abel Kanduho, former head of the Military Police High Command, and Johnson Byabashaija, current Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service.

Britain and the United States in April and May this year named the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Anita Among, as well as former and current Cabinet ministers, over allegations of involvement in serious corruption and human rights abuses, including stealing from vulnerable communities.