US president Biden considering sanctions against top Ugandan security officials

US President Joe Biden is mulling sanctions against top Ugandan security officers over alleged human rights violation and January 14 election irregularities, Department of State spokesperson Ned Price has revealed.

Price told reporters Tuesday that the Biden administration would bring to book security officers involved in electoral malpractices and abuses against opposition candidates and civil society players.

“I believe we said this before, but it probably bears reiterating that Uganda’s January 14th elections were marred by election irregularities and abuses by the government’s security services against opposition candidates and members of civil society,” Price said.

“We strongly urge independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into these incidents. We’ll consider a range of targeted options to hold accountable those members of the security forces responsible for these actions.”

He further acknowledged President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and Uganda’s role in regional security, but added the US would pursue both interests and values.

“When it comes to President Museveni, Uganda, of course, does continue to play a regional role and does have an important role when it comes to some of our interests in the region. It is a troop-contributing country to AMISOM in Somalia, in its international efforts to defeat al-Shabaab,” Price explained.

“But again, this goes to the point that we’ve now made even more times throughout this briefing, that we can pursue our interests and pursue our values at the same time.”

The sanctions, according to Price, would only be against individuals, and would not affecting the relationship with Kampala in the pursuit of common interests.

“We are considering, as I said, a range of targeted options to hold accountable those who are responsible for what we saw in the context of Uganda’s elections, just as we continue to work with Uganda to pursue some of our mutual interests.”

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