US Imposes Sanctions on Ugandan Officials Over Corruption and Human Rights Abuses

The United States has sanctioned Uganda's parliamentary speaker and several other officials for alleged corruption and serious abuses of human rights, marking a significant escalation in pressure on the East African nation.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Uganda's parliamentary speaker and several other officials for alleged corruption and serious abuses of human rights, marking a significant escalation in pressure on the East African nation.

The sanctions, announced by the State Department on Thursday, target Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among, her husband Moses Magogo, former Deputy Chief of the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, and three former government ministers.

Among is accused of "involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership" of Uganda's national assembly, while Elwelu faces sanctions for "extrajudicial killings" committed by government troops. The three former ministers were implicated in the theft of roofing sheets that were not distributed to members of an impoverished community.

The sanctions come amid an ongoing probe ordered by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni into allegations that Among owns property in the United Kingdom that she failed to declare to authorities. The United Kingdom imposed sanctions against Among last month, also citing corruption.

Among has denied the allegations and has claimed she is the victim of a political witch hunt. She says she is being targeted for her role in enacting an anti-gay bill condemned by rights watchdogs.

Elwelu and the other sanctioned Ugandans have not yet commented on the sanctions.

The sanctions bar the targeted individuals from entering the United States and freeze any of their assets that may be held within US jurisdiction.

The move is a significant blow to President Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and has been accused of shielding corrupt but influential officials from criminal prosecution.

After his reelection to a sixth term in 2021, Museveni promised to crack down on corruption. However, many Ugandans remain skeptical, citing the government's continued use of a law that requires activists and opposition figures to notify police of any plans to rally.

The sanctions are likely to further strain US-Uganda relations, which have been tense over human rights concerns, including the country's anti-gay laws and the use of excessive force by security forces.

The sanctions also send a strong message to other corrupt officials in Uganda and around the world that they will not be immune from accountability.

The United States has long been a major donor to Uganda, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in aid each year. However, the sanctions could jeopardize this funding if Uganda does not take significant steps to address corruption and human rights concerns.

The sanctions are a major development in Uganda's political landscape and are likely to have far-reaching implications for the country's future.