BY Tom Mugisha, Mugisha@alleastafrica.com
KAMPALA – Bank of Uganda has frozen all the bank accounts of Action Aid Uganda, a Non-Governmental Organisation that fights poverty and injustice, following a police investigation over alleged money laundering.
The closed five accounts including a Uganda Shillings account, US dollar, Pound Sterling and two Euro accounts are held in Standard Chartered Bank.
The NGO was accused by the government last month of receiving money to “politically distabilise” the country.
On October 3, The Deputy Government Bank of Uganda wrote to the Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited, saying that the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) of the Police was investigating Action Aid International Uganda for alleged conspiracy to commit a felony and money laundering.
“The accounts in question shall remained frozen until otherwise advised by Bank of Uganda,” reads part of the letter
Mr Arthur Larok, the country director ActionAid Uganda, confirmed the freezing of their bank accounts but dismissed the allegations that the NGO was involved in money laundering.
“Anyone with the slightest of understanding and knowledge about ActionAid’s work would know that the reality cannot be any farther from the truth”. He added: “We shall push back, together with our numerous partners the sad trend in our country that the allegations against ActionAid symptomise”.
On September 19th, Police raided the offices of the same organization in Kampala, conducted a cordon and search operation.
