The Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) has opened up a probe into the bank accounts of leading Civil Society Organisations in the country.
The FIA is established under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), 2013 to prohibit and prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Its mission is, therefore, to foster the integrity of the financial system through effective detection and prevention of financial crimes.
This could explain why the FIA has taken interest in the accounts of top CSos including the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), a leading consortium of funders for several NGOs in Uganda.
Other organizations under probe by the FIA include Action Aid International Uganda, Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS), Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET) among others (see image below).
In a letter addressed to Equity Bank Uganda, the FIA Executive Director Mr. Sydney Asubo demands the bank to search its databases and avail account opening details of the over thirteen (13) CSOs.
“The purpose of this communication is to request you to search your databases and avail us account opening documents, bank statements for the last three years,” the letter that is also copied to the money laundering control officer, Ms. Sarah Nakkazi Kiwanuka, reads in part.