BY JIBRIL TURE

In a press release today, the Office of the Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller, announced that the United States government has designated five current and former Ugandan officials for their involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights.

The Speaker of Uganda’s parliament, Anita Among, is designated due to her involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership of the legislative body. For their parts, 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 being designated due to their involvement in “significant corruption related to conduct that misused public resources and diverted materials from Uganda’s neediest communities.” The press release adds that all four officials abused their public positions for their personal benefit at the expense of Ugandans.

A fifth official, Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), is designated due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights. Specifically, Peter Elwelu was involved, while commanding UPDF forces, in extrajudicial killings that were committed by members of the UPDF. “As a result of these actions,” the Office of the Spokesperson adds, “the designated Ugandan officials are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.”

Furthermore, the United States is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on other Ugandan officials for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda.

The press release reads, in part:

The United States 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 position through corruption and gross violations of human rights. 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 disproportionally.”

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