WASHINGTON D.C. – The US Department of State has imposed sanctions on four top Uganda Police Force officials for their involvement in gross human rights violations, including torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
“The United States stands firmly against human rights abuses and torture,” said Matthew Miller, Department. “Today’s sanctions demonstrate our commitment to promoting accountability and protecting human rights globally.”
The sanctioned individuals are Bob Kagarura, the former Wamala Regional Police Commander; Alex Mwine, the former District Police Commander for Mitanya District; Elly Womanya, the former Senior Commissioner and Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Division; and Hamdani Twesigye, the former Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to the Special Investigations Unit.
According to the Department of State, Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, and Twesigye were involved in gross violations of human rights, as documented by Ugandan civil court documents, civil society organizations, and independent journalists.
By publicly designating these individuals, the United States reaffirms its commitment to advancing the human rights of all Ugandans and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations.
As a result of these sanctions, Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, Twesigye, and their immediate family members are now ineligible for entry into the United States.
This move is authorized under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024.
“The reports of Kagarura, Mwine, Twesigye, and Womanya’s involvement in gross human rights violations are serious and credible,” Mr. Miller said.
The development is likely to have significant implications for Uganda’s human rights landscape, sending a strong message that such abuses will not be tolerated.
See full statement
Designation of Uganda Police Force Officials Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights
The Department of State is taking action today to promote accountability for human rights violations committed in Uganda by designating four members of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) due to their involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. These individuals are Bob Kagarura, the then-Wamala Regional Police Commander of the UPF; Alex Mwine, then-District Police Commander for the Mitanya District of the UPF; Elly Womanya, then-Senior Commissioner within the UPF and Deputy Director of the UPF’s Criminal Investigations Division in charge of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU); and Hamdani Twesigye, then-Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to SIU. As a result of today’s action, Kagarura, Mwine, Womanya, Twesigye and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
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. By publicly designating these individuals, the United States reaffirms its commitment to advancing the human rights of all Ugandans and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations.
These public designations are made pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47).
