US Stands Firm: Sanctions on Uganda’s Speaker Among Remain Amid Stalled Deportation Deal
KAMPALA – The United States government has firmly rejected appeals to lift sanctions imposed on Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, according to highly placed sources within the White House. The refusal comes as a direct blow to the Ugandan official, who had reportedly lobbied for the measures to be revoked.
The rejection is said to have been delivered at an early stage of negotiations by United States Secretary of State Marc Robio, acting on behalf of President Trump.
The stalemate over Speaker Among’s sanctions is also reported to be a key factor delaying a separate bilateral agreement on the deportation of individuals from the United States to Uganda. State Minister Henry Okello Oryem confirmed that the conclusion of these deportation negotiations has been hampered by widespread protests and concerns over human rights.
“Many protested the deal, insisting that lives will be in danger if deported to Uganda given the country’s bad record when it comes to human rights,” Oryem stated, highlighting the international scrutiny facing the nation.
This development contradicts earlier optimism from Speaker Among. Following President Trump’s election, she had publicly bragged that the new administration would lift all sanctions against her. However, sources familiar with the matter suggest that the current U.S. administration does not view her case as a priority.
“Sources at the American embassy in Uganda say that Among is not among the people sanctioned that can give Trump sleepless nights for him to save her,” a report indicated, underscoring the perceived low priority of her appeal within the White House.
The practical consequences of the sustained sanctions are severe for the Speaker. It is confirmed that Annet Anita Among is currently unable to access her bank accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates, which have been frozen. Furthermore, her multibillion-dollar properties abroad have been confiscated.
The situation underscores the continuing diplomatic friction between Uganda and Western nations over governance and human rights issues, with Speaker Among’s case becoming a focal point of the tension. The U.S. position suggests there is no imminent “urgent deal” that would compel President Trump to waive the laws to accommodate the affected Ugandan official.
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