By Daniel Mwesigwa

Leader of Opposition in the 11^th Parliament of Uganda, Mathias Mpuuga, says the sanction is a welcome move and notes, “it sends a strong message to other security chiefs who misuse their offices to cause suffering to Ugandans because of their political beliefs.”

“We feel that targeted sanctions should be extended to other duty bearers implicated in killings & kidnaps that were witnessed before, during & after the 2021 elections. But the final ends of justice shall be served when the perpetrators are prosecuted & victims compensated,” Mpuuga, a renowned lawyer said in a tweet last night.

The sanction (verbatim)

REPRESSION IN UGANDA: ABEL KANDIHO

As commander of the Ugandan Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Major General Abel Kandiho (Kandiho) and other CMI officers have arrested, detained, and physically abused persons in Uganda. The CMI targeted individuals due to their nationality, political views, or critique of the Ugandan government. Individuals were taken into custody and held, often without legal proceedings, at CMI detention facilities where they were subjected to horrific beatings and other egregious acts by CMI officials, including sexual abuse and electrocutions, often resulting in significant long-term injury and even death. During these incarcerations, victims were kept in solitary confinement and unable to contact friends, family, or legal support. In some cases, Kandiho was personally involved, leading interrogations of detained individuals.

Kandiho is designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse relating to his tenure.

What the army says