By Andrew Irumba
The spokesperson of the United States Embassy in Kampala Mr. Phil Dimon has confirmed that at least six senior security personnel and government officials in Uganda have been issued with travel bans to Trump land which is world’s leading land of opportunities!
The ban means that the affected members (names withheld for now) are not allowed to enter the US. The issuance of the bans to the officials follows the incident that marred Arua municipality by-election recently.
Mr Dimon said the ban illustrates US government commitments to promotion of human rights. He warned of further consequences if security forces do not stop human rights abuses and violations against unarmed civilians.
According to State-owned New Vision, the 6 officers include policemen and soldiers from UPDF. They were meant to attend a leadership capacity building training at the FBI National Academy at Quantico Virginia.
They were earlier invited but following their involvement in Arua town fracas which resulted in the torture of Kyadondo East member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine, their participation has been blocked and travel ban imposed.
The six officials received letters informing them of travel bans and were signed by Besty Bartko, the US Legal attache based in Nairobi. Their explanation that they acted on orders from above was rejected by the USA.
Bartko warned that acts of torture attract personal consequences its now upon the individuals responsible to feel the heat and be held responsible.
He added they will only be permitted in the US once the ban is lifted upon review. But the torture acts similar to that of DP activist Yusuf Kawooya outside Christ the King Church on Thursday that went viral throughout the night might make things only more complicated for Ugandan officials.
The Kawooya video clip has already attracted massive condemnation and outrage. The new vision newspaper confirmed that the affected officials were linked or participated in the Arua skirmishes that left some victims with severe forms of disability.
