Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, chairing the House
Washington, D.C. – The US Department of State has imposed sanctions on five current and former Ugandan officials, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, for their involvement in significant corruption and gross violations of human rights.
Speaker Among is being sanctioned for her involvement in corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament, while former Ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu, Agnes Nandutu, and Amos Lugolobi are being designated for their involvement in corruption related to the misuse of public resources and diversion of materials from Uganda’s neediest communities.
Additionally, Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), is being sanctioned for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings committed by members of the UPDF.
As a result of these actions, the designated Ugandan officials are generally ineligible for entry into the United States. The Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on multiple other Ugandan officials for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda.
The US Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting transparency in Uganda’s democratic processes, counter corruption globally, and addressing the broader culture of impunity that prevents all Ugandans from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
These sanctions are being imposed under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, and Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
