Investigative Journalist Solomon Sserwanja Arrested

KAMPALA: Investigative journalist Solomon Sserwanja, Executive Director of the African Centre for Investigative Journalism, has been arrested by plain-clothes security personnel, his team has confirmed.

Sserwanja represents non-governmental organizations whose 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, but police are yet to comment on his arrest.

Speaking to this publication, Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, said civil society organizations are heading to police headquarters to seek information about Sserwanja’s arrest.

Recently, the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) froze the bank accounts of several non-governmental organizations operating in Uganda as part of ongoing investigations into suspected financial irregularities and the sources of their funding. The move, confirmed by FIA Director Samuel Wandera, was taken in collaboration with other government agencies following concerns about financial flows linked to the affected organizations. They include Sserwanja’s African Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Agora Centre for Research, and Chapter Four Uganda, among others. The African Institute of Investigative Journalism (AIIJ) has also been ordered by the relevant authorities to suspend its activities pending the conclusion of the investigations.

Sources familiar with the investigations estimate that the organizations collectively received more than Shs70 billion in recent years, prompting authorities to seek greater accountability. Investigators are particularly focused on financial flows from foreign partners and development organizations, as well as the nature of activities supported by such funding.

Officials indicate that once the FIA completed its preliminary review, and the matter was handed over to police for further investigation.