The United States announced on Wednesday that it is imposing sanctions on four officers from the Uganda Police Force due to allegations of serious human rights abuses.
The US Department of State sanctioned Police Commanders Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye in connection with these accusations.
Kagarura served as the Regional Police Commander for the Wamala region, while Mwine held the position of District Police Commander for Mityana during the time when individuals, including Zaake, were reportedly tortured in the aftermath of the 2021 presidential elections. Womanya was the Commandant of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) in Kireka, and Twesigye was an investigator and interrogator within the SIU.
According to the statement, “The allegations against Kagarura, Mwine, Twesigye, and Womanya, which have been documented by Ugandan civil court records, civil society organizations, and independent journalists, are both serious and credible.” As a result, these officers and their immediate family members are now generally barred from entering the United States.
The statement emphasized that by publicly designating these individuals, the United States is reaffirming its commitment to advancing human rights for all Ugandans and holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations. However, it did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the alleged abuses.
