The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, has revealed that more than 2000 Ugandans are currently jailed in the United States for varying offences.

The Prime Minister made this revelation at a keynote address during a luncheon at the 26th Uganda North America Association (UNAA) Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Diego, California on Saturday 30th August 2014.

Rt. Hon. Mbabazi said that while this may be a small fraction of the Ugandans in the US, it still impacts negatively on Uganda.

“This does not reflect well not just on the individuals but on Uganda as a whole. I therefore urge you to observe the law while you are here and not commit crimes that can lead your imprisonment,” he cautioned.

He advised Ugandans resident in the US to instead involve themselves in activities promoting Uganda as a tourist destination instead of wasting time engaging in criminal acts.

Uganda’s Ambassador to the US, H.E Oliver Wonekha said that the Mission has no powers to intervene in cases of Ugandans in jail but urged the relevant authorities back home to take action.

“The Solicitor General should engage the US government in these cases because as Ambassador, I have no mandate to engage the authorities here,” she explained.

The Minister without Portfolio, Hon Richard Todwong, said that the Ugandan government will engage the US government to establish the offences committed by Ugandans and try to secure their release.

Recently, two Ugandans were executed in China for drug trafficking with another 600 in Chinese jails on death row. This caused uproar with Ugandans urging government to intervene and secure either their release or commute their sentences.