By Spy Uganda Correspondent
USA: The USA based Human Rights organization ‘Torture Abolition And Survivors Support Coalition International’ (TASSC) has joined a number of other International organizations and Human Rights activists to condemn Uganda government’s illegal detention of renowned Human Rights lawyer Nicholas Opio among others over ” bogus political reasons.”
READ ALSO: Secrets Behind Human Rights Lawyer Nicholas Opio’s Arrest Revealed!
It’s worth noting that Police in its statement released on Tuesday (December 22, 2020) afternoon, revealed that Opiyo had been arrested by a Joint Task team of Security and Financial Intelligence, on allegations of money laundering and related malicious acts, although there was no clarity on the arrest of other senior opposition lawyers who reportedly include Dakasi Herbert, Odur Anthon and Esomu Obure, NUP presidential candidate and Kyadondo Eeast MP Hon. Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine revealed.
Now in the twist of events, US’ TASSC challenges Uganda police to stop ‘lies’ that Opio was arrested because of money laundering and other acts. According to their findings, they have no doubt to believe that the vocal activist was arrested because of;
1. His intentions to write to google against UCC’s recent letter on shutting down opposition social media channels, especially those associated with Bobi Wine.
2. His critical investigations against the recent ‘Free Bobi Wine’ riots and government’s mass killings that leftover 50 people dead.
Read TASSC’s Full Statement
“WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2020 — TASSC International has learned that Ugandan human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo was abducted today (yesterday), Dec. 22, 2020, in a restaurant, in the Kamwokya area (Uganda) with a group of other human rights lawyers – Dakasi Herbert, Odur Anthony, and Esomu Obure – by unidentified Ugandan security operatives.
Mr. Opiyo is the respected Executive Director of Chapter Four, a civil liberties organization dedicated to supporting human rights and pro-democracy activism in Uganda. We are deeply troubled by this arrest and especially concerned that he is being held incommunicado at an unknown location where his safety may well be in serious jeopardy.
Mr. Opiyo and his colleagues have been actively investigating a series of mid-November murders by Ugandan security forces. As is all too often the case in Uganda, the Ugandan Police Force claims that Mr. Opiyo was taken into custody for investigation of fabricated charges that are a pretext for political persecution. He is being held without due process and any acceptable protection of the law.
This happens as Mr. Opiyo had also recently announced that he is going to appeal the Government of Uganda’s decision to write to Google and Facebook asking to take down YouTube channels and Facebook pages of political opposition figures and human rights activists.
The situation in Uganda is getting out of control, as Uganda prepares for presidential elections in January 2021. More killings, illegal detention, beatings of normal Ugandan citizens as well as the assault on political space are being observed, at an alarming scale.
TASSC condemns this illegal abduction and calls upon Ugandan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Opiyo and his colleagues, and stop infringing on Ugandan people’s rights.
TASSC (Torture Abolition And Survivors Support Coalition) International is a nonprofit organization helping torture survivors from around the world and denouncing torture wherever it is practiced.
Léonce Byimana
Executive Director Of TASSC International
leonce@tassc.org
802 275 8904″
