The United States Department of State has imposed sanctions on four senior Uganda Police Force commanders, citing their involvement in gross human rights violations, including torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
The sanctioned individuals are Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye
These commanders have been barred from traveling to the United States, and their immediate family members are also ineligible for entry.
The sanctions stem from credible reports of human rights abuses, documented by Ugandan civil court documents, civil society organizations, and independent journalists.
The incident that led to these sanctions was the 2020 clash between Ugandan authorities and Mityana lawmaker Francis Zaake.
Zaake was arrested for distributing food to his constituents during COVID-19 restrictions and alleged that police officers, under the command of Mwine and Kagarura, brutally assaulted him.
In recent years, Ugandan authorities have been accused of using excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and detention to silence dissenting voices [5).
The Ugandan government has yet to issue a statement on the sanctions but has previously denied involvement in human rights abuses. Senior government officials have accused the United States of meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs.
Sanctioned Individuals:
- Bob Kagarura: Former Wamala Regional Police Commander
- Alex Mwine: Former District Police Commander for Mityana Distric
- Elly Womanya: Former Senior Commissioner and Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Division
- Hamdani Twesigye: Former Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to the Special Investigations Unit
The sanctions aim to promote accountability for human rights violations committed in Uganda. The international community continues to monitor the situation, advocating for the protection of human rights and the rule of law in the country.
