The renowned Ugandan Human Rights Lawyer and Campaigner, Nicholas Opiyo, who is also the recipient of German Africa Prize, 2017, Voices for Justice Award from Human Rights Watch, 2015 and the European Union Parliament Sakharov Fellows Prize, 2016, has been arrested by the Ugandan authorities on trumped up charges of receiving and laundering money from foreign government.

So far, the the government of Uganda presented no evidence linking Nicholas Opiyo to the alleged money laundering offences. The government of Uganda has been losing support at home and internationally because of its growing repression. The arrest and detention of Nicholas Opiyo, like that of other political and Human Rights activists is aimed at restrictions on freedom of expression and condemnation of government of Uganda militarized and brutal policies.

The Ugandan community at large and members of the international community calls for immediate release of Nicholas Opiyo and urge the government of Uganda to respect Human Rights and the rule of law and end its repeated crackdowns on activists.

Opiyo Oryema

London

United Kingdom