Police speaks on why it arrested human rights lawyer Opiyo

POLICE|CRIME|OPIYO

KAMPALA - Nicholas Opiyo the Executive Director of Chapter Four Uganda an independent not-for-profit non-partisan organisation was arrested on allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts, police have said.

In a statement released on Tuesday (December 22, 2020) afternoon, Police confirmed that Opiyo had been arrested by a Joint Task team of Security and Financial Intelligence, on allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts.

"The investigations are progressing well and any new developments will be communicated in due course. He remains in our custody at the Special Investigations Division," Police noted.

Sources in security noted that Opiyo was arrested after large sums of money were recovered in his account by the FIA. It's suspected that part of the funds was for election monitoring, the source revealed.

Chapter Four Board of Directors Uganda on Tuesday evening released a statement demanding an immediate release of Opiyo.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Chapter Four Uganda noted that it was deeply concerned about the abduction and incommunicado detention of Opiyo earlier today afternoon by unknown security operatives.

"Chapter Four is further concerned about the safety and well-being of Opiyo, considering that he is being held outside of the protection of the law. We are in the process of gathering facts and reviewing the situation and we will be taking measures to ensure his prompt release," the statement partly reads.

They condemned the brutal abduction and called upon their colleagues and partners to condemn the arbitrary violation of Opiyo's liberty, incommunicado detention, and call for his immediate unconditional release.

"Chapter Four legal team is taking action to ensure that Opiyo's rights are respected and to ensure his prompt and unconditional release.

Opiyo was on Tuesday picked up by men in plain cloth from a restaurant in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb, and taken away to an unknown destination.

The controversial lawyer had built his name as a human rights defender and often has been at loggerheads with the government over several human rights abuses.

His interviews on international media outlets have often drawn a backlash with the government, accusing him of working for foreign interests.