The United States has imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on two Ugandan judges, a lawyer, and her husband for their alleged involvement in activities that victimized young children in a corrupt adoption scheme.
The judges are Wilson Musalu Musene of Soroti High Court and Moses Mukiibi, who retired.
The other two Ugandans are advocate Dorah Mirembe and her husband Patrick Ecobu.
The four, according to a press release from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), allegedly participated in a scam that saw young children removed from their families and placed into a corrupt adoption network, aided by the facilitation of officials.
“Deceiving innocent Ugandan families into giving up their children for adoption has caused great suffering,” the press release quotes Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Justin G. Muzinich.
“The individuals involved in this corrupt scam deliberately exploited the good faith of Ugandans and Americans to enrich themselves. The United States remains committed to seeking out and exposing individuals violating human rights across the world,” Mr Muzinich added.
In September last year, the US government through its Treasury department also imposed sanctions on former Police chief Gen Kale Kayihura for reportedly engaging in corruption and human rights abuses.
