The Ugandan government has arrested and detained a foremost human rights lawyer in the country, Nicholas Opiyo.
Opiyo was arrested over allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts.
The Ugandan Police revealed on Tuesday via its Facebook page that Opiyo has been using his firm, Chapter Four, to engage in criminal activities.
Critics of the government have labelled the move as one of the government’s ways to silence opposition.
“We would like to confirm the arrest of Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo … on allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts,” the police force said on its Facebook page.
Chapter Four has condemned the detention and says it’s to threaten and intimidate Opiyo into silence.
A strong critic of the Ugandan government and supporter of most opposition parties, Opiyo is believed to be backing Ugandan opposition candidate and music star, Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine.
Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s 76-year old President has been in office for 34 years and has tweaked the nation’s constitution to remove an age limit that would have stopped him from contesting.
A large demonstration in November had led to the death of more than 50 people, after which Bobi Wine was arrested for breaking coronavirus measures.