The United States (US) Department of State has announced a visa restriction policy on Ugandans, particularly government officials who are believed to be behind the human rights violations and repression of marginalised groups in the country.
According to a press statement issued by the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, this is an expansion of the 2021 similar restrictions targeting those undermining the democratic process in Uganda.
He further implored the Ugandan government to improve its record and hold accountable those responsible for flawed electoral processes, violence, and intimidation.
Among others, Blinken revealed that environmental activists, human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+ persons, and civil society organizers have continued to enjoy a shrinking democratic arena under the threats and repressions by some Ugandan officials.
This is not the first time for the US to issue travel bans against a targeted group of Ugandan officials over undermining democratic processes in the country.
In April 2021, shortly after the 2021 general elections, without naming the said officials, the US issued similar travel bans on those who were said to be behind the gross human atrocities committed during the election periods.
However, President Museveni and a number of government officials have always slammed the US and other Western allies for the previous travel bans, vowing not to rescind the government’s position on the Anti-Homosexual law.
