The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, her husband Moses Magogo, and other officials, including former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu and Junior Finance Minister for Planning Amos Lugoloobi, are barred from entering the United States.
This comes after similar actions from the UK, which also targeted Among and former Karamoja ministers Dr. Goretti Kitutu and Agness Nandutu.
Additionally, the spouses of the sanctioned officials, such as Magogo and Kitutu’s husbands, along with Lugoloobi’s wife, are also affected.
The sanctions restrict their eligibility for specific US visas and freeze their assets within American jurisdictions.
These measures disrupt their ability to engage with the international financial system, further complicating their professional and personal lives.
The US State Department’s punitive measures follow the UK’s sanctions announced a month prior, linked to the iron sheets scandal involving misuse of resources meant for the vulnerable Karamoja sub-region.
Among others, Speaker Among acknowledged receipt of the iron sheets but claimed to have returned them, though only a few officials faced legal charges.
Despite Speaker Among’s dismissal of the UK sanctions as politically motivated due to her stance on anti-homosexuality laws, the US has now imposed similar restrictions, citing significant corruption.
This comes amid allegations of financial mismanagement and dubious payouts within Parliament, spotlighted by the Agora Discourse activism group.
President Museveni has instructed investigations into these allegations, particularly claims about property ownership in the UK by Speaker Among.
Despite her denials, the international community’s actions reflect broader concerns about governance and corruption in Uganda.
The ongoing scrutiny and international isolation of Speaker Among and her associates pose significant challenges to their political careers and Uganda’s governance.