The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control has recently imposed sanctions on Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service, accusing him of gross human rights abuses targeting government critics and marginalized groups since 2005. Byabashaija is among 20 individuals sanctioned by the same office for their alleged involvement in human rights abuses across nine countries.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control alleges that, during the period under review, members of the Uganda Prisons Service were involved in torture and other severe human rights abuses against prisoners held within prison facilities.
"In this timeframe, members of the UPS have engaged in torture and other serious human rights abuses against prisoners held within UPS facilities. Prisoners have reported instances of torture and physical assault inflicted by UPS staff and by fellow inmates under the direction of UPS staff. Members of vulnerable groups, including government critics and Uganda’s LGBTQI+ community, have been subjected to beatings and held without access to legal counsel. In a specific incident from 2020, the UPS denied a group of LGBTQI+ individuals access to their lawyers, leading to reported instances of physical abuse, including forced anal examinations and scalding," stated the Office in a press release.
The Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) is yet to respond to these serious allegations. The sanctions against Byabashaija and others mark a concerted effort by the U.S. government to address and condemn human rights abuses globally, emphasizing accountability for those in positions of power. The international community awaits the response and actions from the Uganda Prisons Service in light of these damning accusations.
