- United States has implemented sanctions against Ugandan government officials last week.
- The visa bans are based on the report titled ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Uganda’, released on March 30 2021 by the US State Department.
The United States has implemented sanctions against Ugandan government officials last week. On April 16, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced fresh visa restrictions on Ugandan State officials who have been alleged to have undermined the democratic process in Uganda, particularly during the election campaigns in January.
The visa bans are based on the report titled ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Uganda’, released on March 30 2021 by the US State Department. The US report accuses the Ugandan government of gross violation of human rights. The opposition candidates were harassed, arrested, and held illegally and Ugandan security forces unleashed brutal force that killed dozens of innocent bystanders and opposition supporters.
The report targets Uganda’s top security officers, government officials and politicians who allegedly participated in crushing dissent and opposition. The government of Uganda refuted the allegations accusing the US of failing to follow the principles of mutual respect, non-interference and sovereignty. In a 17-page response Uganda has refuted all allegations and has justified the arrest of opposition politicians, alleging that the arrests were made for breaching Covid-19 protocols while campaigning.
Earlier, EU Parliament also had passed a resolution calling for sanctions against Uganda over electoral theft, violence, killings and kidnappings.
Uganda receives substantial aid from the US and hence adopts a softer tone and emphasises that it values the partnership with the United States and is committed to the continued strengthening of that partnership.
Uganda receives about $1 billion of US aid every year, mostly to fund health programmes. The US has supported the Ugandan army by providing materiel and training.
