On Wednesday, police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga disclosed that a joint team of security intelligence agencies led by police and the Financial Iintelligence Authority (FIA) had launched an investigation into money laundering crimes allegedly committed by celebrated human rights lawyer and Chapter four Uganda Executive Director Nicholas Opiyo.
Opiyo was arrested together with Anthony Odur, Edomu Obure and National Unity Platform (NUP) human rights officer Hamid Tenywa.
Detectives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) intimated to theGrapevine that they have been monitoring Chapter Four Uganda bank accounts and those of Opiyo as a person for almost a year after a brief from the External Intelligence Organization (ESO) that he was working with foreign organizations and persons who were facilitating regime change in Uganda.
Detective added that on top of working with foreigners, Opiyo also coordinated Ugandans leaving in countries like United States of America, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherland to facilitate regime change in Uganda by funding National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine.
The detectives said that because he is highly connected internationally, Opiyo was chosen to assist and strategise on how financial support can reach Uganda from abroad to facilitate Bobi Wine's activities in Uganda.
Detectives disclosed that on several occasions, Opiyo met Bobi Wine funders in the neighboring countries especially Kenya and the last meeting was with Robert Amsterdam, Bobi Wine's international lawyer.
Detectives added that a number of NUP leaders led by Louise Rubongoya, the party's Secretary General and youthful Mityana Municipality legislator Francis Butebi Zaake travelled abroad and met Ugandans there and representatives from international organizations interested in democracy in African and they asked for assistance to overthrow president Yoweri Museveni regime.
Detectives said that some organizations asked NUP bosses to establish a legal department as a decoy to transfer funds under the guise of facilitating party members who were arrested and in detention.
However, this proposal was rubbished by Rubongoya who wanted all the facilitation to pass through the office of the Secretary General.
ESO SUBOTAGES BOBI WINE FINANCIAL MOBILIZATION ABROAD
Security sources revealed that the Ugandan government through ESO decided to sabotage Bobi Wine's mobilization drive by causing mistrust, fights and divisions among the appointed leaders in the diaspora.
This move successfully worked because NUP supporters in the diaspora started accusing NUP leaders in Uganda of mismanaging money given to them to run the struggle.
Since then, the funding was cut off and the party started mobilizing for funds locally.
However, this was also frustrated by COVID-19 pandemic because Ugandans were no longer working.
One of the detectives we talked to said that even the few Ugandans in the diaspora who were still stuck on Bobi Wine were financially weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
THE SHS.7 TRILION ALLEGATION
Detectives disclosed that early this year, international organisations released over Shs.7trn.
This money was supposed to be paid in instalments.
They revealed that Opiyo was tasked with strategising on how the money will reach Bobi Wine who was on the campaign trail.
It was agreed that the money should pass through different Non- government organisations and in different law firms.
Detectives claim that the NGOs gave an excuse that the funds were meant to help disadvantaged Ugandans and those who were badly hit by the COVID19 pandemic.
The lawyers on the other hand gave an excuse that the money that passed through their law firms bank accounts was meant to pay legal fees for those arrested and in detention, they claimed that they were only getting commission.
WHY DETECTIVES WERE VERY CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING OPIYO'S MATTER
When asked why the FIA did not freeze Opiyo's bank account and that of Chapter four Uganda, plus other accounts of the said law firms, like they did with accounts belonging to different Non-governmental organisations, a security source explained that they were very careful with Opiyo since he is a lawyer and is well connected.
Sources in security further disclosed that they picked Opiyo's laptop and phones from his home so as to gather substantive evidence which can be used against him, however, they failed to open the gadgets stolen from him.
Lawyer Godber Tumushabe revealed that when Opiyo's gadgets stolen, he used private investigators to trace where his gargets were taken and they established that it was in areas of Naguru where certain state intelligence agency run their operations.
M7 KNOWS ABOUT OPIO'S ARREST
Another security source told theGrapevine that there was a disagreement between state intelligence agencies on how to arrest Opio.
He revealed that Opiyo is highly connected to many top intelligence commandants and security operatives and many did not agree to his arrest until the order came from above.
He added that they have been following him for days and until they discovered that it was suitable to be arrested with NUP officials in Kamwokya where NUP headquarters is located.
LAWYERS FEAR FOR ARREST
Medard Lubega Sseggona, one of the legal brains behind Bobi Wine revealed that many lawyers fear being arrested.
Speaking to Buganda's Central Broadcasting Services (CBS radio), Sseggona said that Opio is the first to be arrested but others will soon follow suit. Sseggona called upon his colleagues to fight tooth and nail to see that they rescue their friends behind the bars.
OPIO'S CHARGED, REMANDED
Opio was today charged before Nakawa chief magistrates court with money laundering and neglect to submit returns to the NGO bureau.
The trial magistrate Douglas Singiza denied him bail arguing that he lacks jurisdiction and forwarded his file to the anti corruption court.
Opio was remanded up to 28 December. State alleges that on October 8th at ABSA bank garden city branch, Opio received USD 340,000 through account number 6004078045 in names of Chapter four Uganda knowing that the money was going to be used to commit a crime.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
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