Investigative journalist Solomon Sserwanja, Executive Director of the African Centre for Investigative Journalism, has been arrested by plain-clothes security personnel, according to confirmation from his team.
Sserwanja is a representative of non-governmental organisations whose bank accounts were blocked by security agencies in March over allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts.
He was arrested in Kira Municipality over the weekend while on his way home. Police are yet to issue any statement on the matter.
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, told this publication that civil society organisations were heading to police headquarters to seek information about the circumstances of his arrest.
The arrest follows a broader crackdown on NGO financing in Uganda. The Financial Intelligence Authority froze the bank accounts of several non-governmental organisations as part of ongoing investigations into suspected financial irregularities and the sources of their funding. FIA Director Samuel Wandera confirmed the move was taken in collaboration with other government agencies over concerns about financial flows linked to the affected organisations. Among those affected are Sserwanja’s African Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Agora Centre for Research, and Chapter Four Uganda.
Sources familiar with the investigations estimate that the organisations collectively received more than Shs 70 billion in recent years, prompting authorities to demand greater accountability. Investigators are particularly focused on financial flows from foreign partners and development organisations, as well as the nature of activities supported by such funding.
Officials indicate that once the FIA completed its preliminary review, the matter was handed over to police for further investigation.
