US Sanctions against Speaker and Top Gov’t Officials are Unjust – Uganda Gov’t.
The Public Lens
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Oryem Okello has on behalf of Government responded and objected to the latest US sanctions imposed against the speaker of parliament Annet Annita Among and the other top government officials.
Okello argues that since all the ministers sanctioned are currently facing Ugandan courts of lawand have are yet to find a rule on the cases, it is clear that the US government’s hasty action is targeting Among.
“My belief is that this is an insult and undermines our judicial system,” Okello said. “The sanctions are unjust. They are punitive,” he said. “They are bullish because they know that we cannot do anything against it. And it’s just deliberate to punish the speaker for her role and leadership to fight LBGTQ and homosexuality in Uganda.”
On Thursday the U.S. State Department imposed entry bans on Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and five other Ugandan officials due to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
“Speaker of Parliament Anita Among is designated due to involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament,” the Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said in statement which was issued.
The other officials include; Ms Among’s husband, Moses Magogo; Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi; former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu; former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu and former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Peter Elwelu.
These sanctions particularly highlight the alleged involvement of Kitutu, Nandutu, and Lugolobi in significant corruption, specifically related to the misuse of public resources intended for Uganda’s most vulnerable communities.
“All four officials (Ms Among, Ms Kitutu, Ms Nandutu and Mr Lugolobi) abused their public positions for their personal benefit at the expense of Ugandans,” Mr Miller added.
Lt Gen Elwelu was sanctioned 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 designated Ugandan officials are generally ineligible for entry into the United States,” Mr Miller’s statement added.
He said the Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on several other Ugandan officials for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda.
Mr. Miller also added that the said Ugandan officials allegedly are responsible for, or complicit in, the repression of Ugandan members of political opposition groups, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities in Uganda.
“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,” Mr Miller further said.
According to him, the sanctions made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47) reaffirm the U.S. commitment to support transparency in Uganda’s democratic processes, counter corruption globally, and address the broader culture of impunity that prevents all Ugandans from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Department also sanctioned Ms Among’s spouse, Moses Magogo Hassim; Kitutu’s spouse, Michael George Kitutu; and Lugolobi’s spouse, Evelyne Nakimera; they also are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
“The additional steps to impose visa restrictions on multiple other Ugandan individuals are being taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act under the policy Secretary Blinken expanded in December 2023”
Mary Anne Nanfuka , a Ugandan political analyst, said that those people targeted by the sanctions are not acting on their own and that sanctions never work as a deterrent.
“I see that these Western countries want to pander to their electorate,” Nanfuka said.
“They know very well that they need the government to cooperate with them in certain areas. So, once push comes to shove, they will let it pass. Yes, it’s a gesture, but no, we are still not impressed,” she said.
Chris Obore, the head of public affairs in the Ugandan parliament, said the corruption allegations are political and vendetta-driven, otherwise they would have targeted the entire Ugandan cabinet.
The State Department specifically mentioned a giveaway of iron roofing sheets that were meant for a poor community but were instead shared by top government members among themselves.
“It is a sign of their latent anger against the speaker for presiding over the anti-homosexuality law,” Obore said. “It is clear that the UK, US, and Canada have been putting pressure when that law was being debated here. Because it is not about iron sheets. How did the speaker personally benefit from those iron sheets when public schools that were roofed were there?”
Okello said Uganda will engage US government officials and get to the bottom of how the State Department decided to approve the sanctions.
