Uganda Speaker, 3 others denied entry into U.S: summary

Uganda's Speaker Anita Annet Among addresses Member of Parliament Asuman Basalirwa (not pictured), during the passing of the anti-Homosexuality bill, at a sitting inside the Parliament Buildings in Kampala, Uganda May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa

Source: X07299

What we know

Five Uganda public officials including the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and the immediate former Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Peter Elwelu have been sanctioned by the United States over corruption-related allegations and abuse of human rights. The ban was imposed on the officials on May 30.
This means the speaker is denied entry into the United States until further notice. A statement from the US Department of State indicated that the sanctions 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).
This comes after similar sanctions against the Speaker and two ex-ministers by the United Kingdom. The US State Department said the speaker is implicated in significant corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament.
Others affected by the ban include former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu and her deputy Agnes Nandutu, as well as Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi, who were allegedly involved in corruption related to conduct that misused public resources and diverted materials from Uganda’s neediest communities.
Spouses of the banned individuals, Moses Hashim Magogo Michael George Kitutu, and Evelyne Nakimera, will not be allowed entry into the US. Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament has described the move as an attempt to gag her over her stance against LGBTQ+ activities in the country.

What they said

Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller was quoted as saying, “All four officials abused their public positions for their benefit at the expense of Ugandans.

Wonder Hagan