Ugandan President appoints US blacklisted spy, Kandiho as Head of police force

By Matthew Eloyi

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has appointed a former military intelligence chief, Major General Abel Kandiho, who is blacklisted by the United States over alleged rights violations, to the top command of the country’s police force.

Kandiho was recalled late Tuesday from his posting as security envoy in South Sudan barely two weeks after being dropped as spymaster.

Uganda’s military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Kakurungu said in a statement that, “Kandiho has been appointed to the position of the Joint Staff of the Uganda Police Force.”

Kandiho was the commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence until last month, and he has been accused of atrocities such as beatings, sexual assault, and electrocution.

Last December, the US Treasury imposed penalties on Kandiho for alleged human rights crimes committed while he was in office.

The US Treasury said people arrested by his bureau were “subjected to horrific beatings and other egregious acts by officials, including sexual abuse and electrocutions, often resulting in significant long-term injury and even death.”

According to the US, Kandiho was occasionally personally involved in overseeing interrogations of detainees, including those targeted for criticizing the government.

Journalists have been attacked, lawyers have been imprisoned, election monitors have been punished, and opposition leaders have been violently muzzled in Uganda for years.