The U.S. Department of State has announced the designation of four members of the Uganda Police Force due to their involvement in significant human rights violations. The individuals named are Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye. These officials have been implicated in acts of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Bob Kagarura served as the Wamala Regional Police Commander; Alex Mwine was the District Police Commander for Mitanya District; Elly Womanya held the position of Senior Commissioner within the UPF and Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Division's Special Investigations Unit (SIU); and Hamdani Twesigye was a Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to SIU.
As a consequence of this action, these individuals and their immediate family members are now generally barred from entering 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," stated a spokesperson from the Department of State.
This decision is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. By taking this step, the United States aims to underscore its commitment to upholding human rights in Uganda and ensuring accountability for those responsible for violations.
