Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Expresses Optimism Trump’s Victory Could Lift U.S. Sanctions Against Officials

Kampala, Uganda – Speaker of Parliament Anita Among expressed optimism Wednesday that Donald Trump’s return to the White House may lead to the lifting of sanctions imposed on her and other Ugandan officials by the Joe Biden administration.

Addressing fellow legislators, after passing the contetious National Coffee Bill 2024, Among conveyed her hope that the newly elected U.S. president would overturn sanctions implemented earlier in May this year. “I want to assure members that no intimidation can ever move me away from where I am. I will always remain the smiling me,” she declared confidently. “And now that Trump has even won, those sanctions are gone.”

The U.S. Department of State, in May 2024, imposed sanctions on a list of Ugandan officials, including Speaker Among, citing alleged corruption and human rights abuses. Among was specifically targeted for “significant corruption tied to her leadership” of Uganda’s national assembly, leading to travel restrictions and asset freezes. Her husband, Moses Magogo, who serves as the president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), was also sanctioned.

Other Ugandan officials affected by the sanctions include Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, implicated in “extrajudicial killings” by government forces, and three former ministers accused of misappropriating materials meant for underprivileged communities.

Trump’s election as the 47th President of the United States, after a hard-fought victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, has stirred speculation about possible shifts in U.S. foreign policy. Among’s comments reflect a belief that Trump’s administration may reconsider the sanctions introduced under Biden, though it remains uncertain if or when any policy changes might take place.

The Ugandan government has previously condemned the sanctions, asserting they are politically motivated and interfere with Uganda’s sovereignty. Ugandan officials have maintained that their national governance should be free from external influence.

While each U.S. administration may review and adjust foreign policy, such changes often depend on a broad assessment of the factors leading to the sanctions. For now, Speaker Among’s hopeful remarks underscore her resolve to serve, regardless of international pressures or restrictions.