Former Minister of State for Housing,Capt. Francis Babu has raised concerns over the potential fallout from sanctions imposed on Ugandan security officers by foreign countries. During a discussion held earlier today at NTV, Babu expressed his reservations about the foreign-based sanctions, calling for Uganda to take responsibility for holding its own security forces accountable.
“These sanctions are foreign-based and imposed on us as Ugandans by another country. Why can’t the police hold their own people accountable and sanction them?” Babu questioned, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of internal accountability within Uganda’s law enforcement.
The former Kampala Central legislator also drew parallels with the United States, emphasizing that despite instances of police misconduct, particularly involving racial discrimination, the U.S. government holds its officers accountable. “Every country has both good and bad security personnel. America has one of the toughest police forces, and we have seen instances in the media where they have mistreated Black individuals. Who sanctioned them? The difference is that they hold their own accountable. Why can’t we do the same here?” he added.
The sanctions, which were imposed on select Ugandan security officers, have drawn mixed reactions. Some, like Fred Ebil, the Secretary General of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), see the actions as a reflection of broader issues in the security forces, which he says are rooted in political discrimination.
“The problems with these security officers stem from the discrimination of people based on political parties. We are all Ugandans. When you examine all the actions taken, they often involve handling individuals in ways that violate the law,” said Ebil. He further noted that security personnel are often taught to view those who oppose the ruling party as rebels, leading to unjust treatment of those with differing political views.
Despite Babu’s reservations, others see the sanctions as a positive step towards reform. Fred Ebil expressed hope that these sanctions will serve as a lesson for Uganda’s security forces. “I believe the recent sanctions imposed against the police officers will benefit Ugandans. It is well-known that you cannot easily disregard the decisions of America; it can make life difficult for those sanctioned, so their counterparts should learn from this and respect human rights,” he remarked.
Frank Kabuye, the Member of Parliament for Kassanda County South, echoed Ebil’s sentiments. He welcomed the sanctions, stressing that they serve as a warning to other security personnel. “These sanctions should serve as a warning to other security personnel that, while you may violate human rights as part of a group under orders from above, you will ultimately face the global consequences alone,” Kabuye said.
The sanctions, while targeting specific officers, have sparked a national debate on the accountability of Uganda’s security forces, as well as the country’s broader human rights record. The discussion continues as Ugandans wait to see whether these international pressures will result in meaningful changes within the country’s security apparatus.
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