In a significant move, the US Department of State has designated five current and former Ugandan officials for their involvement in corruption and gross violations of human rights. This action highlights the US commitment to promoting accountability and democratic principles in Uganda.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, is among those designated due to her involvement in significant corruption during her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament. Former Ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, and current Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi, are also implicated for misusing public resources meant for Uganda’s neediest communities. All four officials exploited their positions for personal gain at the expense of Ugandan citizens.
Additionally, Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has been designated for his role in gross human rights violations. Elwelu commanded UPDF forces involved in extrajudicial killings. As a consequence of these actions, the designated officials are now generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
The Department of State is also imposing visa restrictions on several other Ugandan officials for undermining the democratic process and repressing marginalized and vulnerable populations. These individuals have played a role in the repression of political opposition groups, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities in Uganda.
The US stands with Ugandans advocating for democracy, accountability, and transparency. Today’s actions reaffirm the US commitment to supporting these values and countering corruption globally. Impunity for corrupt officials slows development, facilitates crime, and disproportionately affects underrepresented and underserved populations.
These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. The spouses of some designated officials, including Moses Magogo Hassim, Michael George Kitutu, and Evelyne Nakimera, are also ineligible for entry into the United States. Additional visa restrictions are being imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
