These Are The 4 Uganda Police Sanctioned By US For Gross Violations of Human Rights

The United States Department of State has announced sanctions against four senior members of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) for their involvement in gross human rights violations, including acts of torture and inhumane treatment. The sanctioned individuals are Bob Kagarura, Elly Womanya, Alex Mwine, and Hamdani Twesigye, all of whom held key positions within the UPF during Uganda’s 2021 election period.

The decision comes in response to credible reports of these officers’ roles in acts of torture, particularly during the arrest and detention of opposition figures. Among the documented cases is the high-profile torture of Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake, who was subjected to brutal treatment while in police custody after distributing food aid during the COVID-19 lockdown—a violation of a government directive against public gatherings. The Ugandan High Court ruled in Zaake’s favor, ordering compensation of UGX 75 million for his mistreatment.

The sanctioned individuals held influential roles at the time of these abuses:

• Bob Kagarura served as Regional Police Commander (RPC) for the Wamala region.
• Alex Mwine was District Police Commander (DPC) for Mityana.
• Elly Womanya was Senior Commissioner of Police and head of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) under the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
• Hamdani Twesigye was a deputy police inspector assigned to the SIU, which was notorious for its use of torture during interrogations.

These officers are now barred from entering the United States, along with their immediate family members, under Section 7031(c) of the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. This measure allows the U.S. to impose sanctions on foreign officials involved in corruption or human rights abuses.

The U.S. Department of State underscored that the sanctions are part of a broader effort to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable. “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,” the statement reads. The action reaffirms the U.S.’ commitment to upholding the human rights of all Ugandans, according to the Department’s official release.

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine welcomed the sanctions, praising the U.S. for its continued support in holding Ugandan officials accountable for their actions. “We are very delighted to receive news of fresh sanctions imposed by the United States of America on these four senior police officers who have been involved in torture, cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment,” he said in a statement. He emphasized that this action serves as a reminder that justice, though delayed, is inevitable. Wine also warned overzealous security personnel that they will face individual accountability for crimes committed against the Ugandan people.

This is not the first instance of U.S. sanctions targeting Ugandan officials. In December 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Major General Abel Kandiho, then-head of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), over human rights abuses, including torture and sexual abuse committed under his watch. In May 2024, sanctions were also imposed on Ugandan officials, including Speaker Anita Among, former Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu, and Agnes Nandutu, for their involvement in corruption and human rights violations.

As Uganda continues to face international scrutiny for its human rights record, the U.S. has made clear its commitment to supporting Ugandan civil society and opposition movements in their quest for justice and accountability.