U.S blacklists Ugandan Speaker Anita Among over corruption

The United States government has imposed sanctions on five current and past Ugandan officials due to their involvement in corruption or grave human rights violations.

The five are; Uganda Parliament Speaker Anita Among, Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi, former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu and Peter Elwelu, the former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).

According to the U.S. Department of State, Among has been implicated in significant corruption related to her leadership role in Uganda's Parliament.

Last week, for instance, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni penned a letter to Among demanding clarification on whether she is the owner of a luxurious flat in London, after the Speaker had previously denied ownership. In a rejoinder on Wednesday, Among once again denied owning the flat. 

"Kitutu, Nandutu, and Lugolobi are being designated due to their involvement in significant corruption related to conduct that misused public resources and diverted materials from Uganda’s neediest communities," said the U.S Department of State.

"All four officials (Among included) abused their public positions for their personal benefit at the expense of Ugandans."

Elwelu, on the other hand, has been flagged due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights.

"Specifically, Peter Elwelu was involved, while commanding UPDF forces, in extrajudicial killings that were committed by members of the UPDF," the U.S. State Department added.

The State Department subsequently declared all the five individuals ineligible for entry into the United States, further stating that it is currently in the process of imposing Visa restrictions on several other Ugandan officials for their roles in undermining democratic process and suppressing Ugandans.

"These individuals are responsible for, or complicit in, the repression of Ugandan members of political opposition groups, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities in Uganda," said the U.S. State Department.

"Today’s actions reaffirm the U.S. commitment to support transparency in Uganda’s democratic processes, counter corruption globally, and address the broader culture of impunity that prevents all Ugandans from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Besides the said present and former Ugandan government officials, the US government also imposed sanctions on their respective spouses.

“The Department is also designating Among’s spouse, Moses Magogo Hassim; Kitutu’s spouse, Michael George Kitutu; and Lugolobi’s spouse, Evelyne Nakimera; they also are generally ineligible for entry into the United States,” it stated.