Uganda Police on Wednesday evening cordoned off Action Aid Uganda offices in Kasanga Kampala causing panic at the time when the NGO’s workers were preparing to go home.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima in an interview denied knowledge of the cordoning off of the NGO’s office. But emerged that polices armed with a court order wanted to search Action Aid Offices for informed about alleged “funding of illegal activities.”
Action Aid Uganda Public Relations Officer Ritah Samanya Kyategeka told Uganda Radio Network that about 50 police officers in plain clothes and police uniform cordoned off their offices at around 5:00PM with a search warrant. She said they refused to talk to Action Aid staff after furnishing them with the warrant.
According to the search warrant issued by Nakawa Magistrate Nakitende Juliet on September 20th, 2017, Police was granted permission to search the organization’s computer, accessories, mobile handsets, money transfer related documents and bank-related transactions.
“This is to authorize and require you to enter, open the said building/premises and search for such things described as aforesaid and if found carry it/ them before this court or some other court to be dealt with according to the law, returning this warrant with an endorsement certifying that you have immediately upon its execution,” partly read the search warrant.
The search warrant was obtained through an affidavit by Detective Assistant Inspector General of Police, Walya Henry Peter. Documents indicated that Waya Henry Peter is attached to Criminal Investigations Department Naguru.
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