The former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura has trashed sanctions that were imposed on him by the United States (US) on Friday.
The US sanctioned Kayihura “for having been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in or whose members have engaged in serious human rights abuse against Ugandan citizens, as well as for his involvement in corruption”.
Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said in a statement that they were targeting Kayihura for using corruption and bribery to strengthen his political position, as units under his command committed serious human rights abuses.
“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of Kayihura, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by him alone or with other designated persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC…” he said.
However, on Saturday, Gen Kayihura issued a statement, rubbishing the allegations as “baseless, unverified and outrageous”.
He accused the US of hypocrisy: “The fact is that the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) worked closely with me and with units of policer that were involved in fighting crime, including the Flying Squad. They were not scandalized by my leadership but actually gave me an award for contribution in the fight against terror,” he wrote.
