The US government has announced visa restrictions against several officials in Ugandan government over corruption and human rights violations in respect to the Anti-Homosexuality law recently adopted by Uganda.
In a press statement issued on 16 June 2023 by the US State Department, the visa restrictions in response to human rights abuses and corruption in Uganda, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on unnamed Ugandan individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda.
As directed by President Biden, the U.S. government says it will continue to evaluate additional actions under this policy, “as well as the use of other tools at our disposal, to promote accountability for Ugandan officials and other individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda, abusing human rights, including those of LGBTQI+ persons, or engaging in corrupt practices.”
Last month, Uganda adopted the Anti-homosexuality Act 2023 which criminalizes same sex marriages and promotion of acts of homosexuality, despite pressure from western powers to drop the legislation. During its enactment, the law registered massive support from policy makers as well as religious leaders on account of defending traditional family values.
This week, the US Department also updated its travel guidance to U.S. citizens to highlight the risk that LGBTQI+ persons, or those perceived to be LGBTQI+, could be prosecuted and subjected to life imprisonment or the death penalty based on provisions in the law.