News coming our way this evening indicates that the United has imposed financial sanctions on Museveni’s Army boss Abel Kandiho who heads the Army’s Intelligence wing dubbed Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
In a press release seen by this website, Army spokesperson Brigadier Flavia Byekyaso acknowledged receipt of a notification of the unilateral financial sanctions against Kandiho by the US government though details and reasons for the sanctions haven’t been revealed.
Maj Gen Abel Kandiho joins a list of other security bosses who have been blacklisted by the US government through the Department of State most notably former Police Chief Gen Kale Kayihura with members of his immediate family.
After the highly contested 2021 general elections, the US government-imposed visa sanctions on those it believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic processes in Uganda including during the 2021 general elections and the campaign period which Museveni government called unfair.
The army spokesperson has however expressed her disappointment that such a decision to sanction the army boss were made by a country they consider a friend to Uganda without due process and in total disregard of the principle of fair hearing coupled with failure to make the necessary consultations.
UPDF Press Release
“As a country and UPDF in particular, a reputable government institution, we are disappointed that such a decision could be made by a country we consider friendly, a partner and a great ally , without due process and in total disregard of the principle of “fair hearing” coupled with failure to make the necessary consultations”- wrote Brig Flavia Byekwaso.
The sanctions come at a time Uganda and Congo have mounted operations dubbed Operations Shujaa on eliminating the Allied Defence Forces (ADF), a rebel group based in the forested areas of Eastern Congo.