HUMAN RIGHTS: US sanctions 4 Ugandan police officers

The US sanctions Police Commanders, Bob Kagarura,  Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya and and Hamdani Twesigye over alleged human rights abuses.

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on four officers of the Uganda Police Force over accusations of involvement in gross human rights abuses.

The US Department of State sanctioned Police Commanders, Bob Kagarura,  Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya and and Hamdani Twesigye over alleged human rights abuses.

Bob Kagarura was RPC Wamala region, Alex Mwine Mukono was DPC Mityana when Zaake and others were tortured during and after the 2021 presidential elections.

SCP Elly Womanya was Commandant SIU Kireka and IP Twesigye was investigator/interrogator SIU. Remember SIU was also being used by CI, and CMI as incarceration/interrogation centers during the tense political period.

“The reports that Kagarura, Mwine, Twesigye, and Womanya were involved in gross violations of human rights, as documented by Ugandan civil court documents, civil society organizations, and independent journalists, are serious and credible,” said the statement.

Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, Twesigye, and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States said the statement.

The Statement adds that the designations of the officers are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47).

“By publicly designating 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 published on the US Department of State website reads

The Statement didn’t reveal details of what human rights violations that they were involved in.

We are very delighted to receive news of fresh sanctions imposed by the United States of America on four senior police officers, who have been involved in torture, cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment. The four are Bob Kagarura, Elly Womanya, Alex Mwine and Hamdan Twesigye.… pic.twitter.com/ckUasm7hK6

— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) October 2, 2024

However, it should be noted that the four Police Officers were implicated in the torture of Mityana Municipality Member Francis Zaake Butebi during his arrest in 2020.

The Policemen arrested Zaake while distributing food to his electorates against a Presidential directive banning gatherings to stop the spread of COVID-19 during the lock down.

Zaake also accused police officers and the military of holding him incommunicado for 10 days in several places not authorized for detention by law and without allowing him access to medical treatment of his choice.

The High Court in Kampala ordered the Government to compensate MP Zaake with 75 million shillings in compensation for violating his rights and holding him incommunicado.

In December 2021 US also imposed sanctions on Major Abel Kandiiho the then head of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence over alleged human rights abuses, including for alleged torture and sexual abuse committed under his watch.

The U.S. Treasury Department said that Kandiho and other CMI officers targeted individuals due to their nationality, political views, or criticism of the Ugandan government.

In May this year, the USA also imposed sanctions on Speaker Anita Among, and former ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu over accusations of involvement in corruption or human rights abuses.

In addition, Peter Elwelu, former deputy chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) was also sanctioned “due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights”. While commanding defense forces, Elwelu was involved in extrajudicial killings committed by UPDF members

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