This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On September 13, 2019, the US government imposed sanctions on former Uganda police chief Kale Kayihura for his role in human rights abuses and corruption.
Kayihura, who served as Inspector-General of Police from 2005 to March 2018, was sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for his involvement in serious human rights abuses against Ugandan citizens.
The US Treasury Department alleged that Kayihura had used his position to advance his personal interests and those of the Ugandan regime, and had engaged in corruption, including stealing funds intended for official government business.
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of Kayihura, and of any entities owned by him, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. US citizens are also prohibited from transacting on assets linked to Kayihura.
The sanctions come as Kayihura faces charges in a Ugandan military court for his role in the detention and torture of civilians during his tenure as police chief.
According to the US Treasury Department, Kayihura authorized the detention of political rivals, clamped down on protesters, and barred the right to assembly. He also allegedly ran detention and interrogation centers across the country, where suspects were forced into confessions.
"We are targeting Uganda's former Police Inspector General Kale Kayihura for using corruption and bribery to strengthen his political position, as units under his command committed serious human rights abuses," said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
