Six officials of AGORA Centre for Research Ltd have been summoned by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to record statements as investigations into alleged fraud and money laundering intensify.
The officials required to appear before investigators are Henry Otafiire, Godwin Toko, Haggai Matsiko, Patrick Murungi, and Agather Atuhaire.
While several of them are expected to report to investigators today, Atuhaire has been instructed to appear at the Kampala Metropolitan North Regional Police Headquarters in Kawempe on June 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The summons, dated June 24, 2026, was issued by the Kampala Metropolitan North Regional CID Office and signed by Superintendent of Police Rashida Naluzze.
It indicates that the officials are being interviewed to assist ongoing inquiries into suspected fraud and money laundering involving AGORA Centre for Research Ltd.
According to the notice, investigators intend to interview the officials and obtain statements relating to the matter under investigation.
Commenting on the summons, Atuhaire said she appreciated what she described as adherence to lawful procedures by the authorities.
She noted that instead of security operatives carrying out raids or detaining suspects without explanation, the organisation’s officials had been formally invited to respond to questions.
Atuhaire expressed hope that similar treatment would be extended to all Ugandans in future investigations.
AGORA Centre for Research was among a number of civil society organisations whose bank accounts were frozen in February this year following directives from the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).
At the time, FIA Executive Director Samuel Wandera said the agency had acted within its legal mandate to halt suspicious transactions while investigations were ongoing.
Sources familiar with the inquiry claim that AGORA Centre for Research and the African Institute for Investigative Journalism processed transactions amounting to about Shs70 billion over the last five years.
The sources allege that investigators were not satisfied with explanations regarding the origin of the funds and their intended use.
The sources further contend that the FIA had been monitoring the accounts and that account signatories failed to provide sufficient documentation to account for the transactions.
AGORA has, however, rejected allegations of wrongdoing, insisting that its operations have always complied with the law and that it is ready to account for all its activities.
In a statement issued on June 25, 2026, the organisation said it had fully cooperated with the Financial Intelligence Authority and submitted all requested documents more than two months ago.
The organisation said it had not received any feedback from the FIA since providing the documentation.
AGORA also argued that the freezing of its accounts and the summoning of its officials appeared to be part of a broader pattern of pressure targeting civil society groups engaged in monitoring public institutions.
It maintained that while it would comply with all lawful procedures, it was concerned that such actions could intimidate organisations working to expose corruption and promote accountability.
In recent months, government agencies, including the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations, security bodies and the Financial Intelligence Authority, have increased scrutiny of civil society organisations accused of pursuing foreign interests, although no specific organisations have been publicly named.
At least ten organisations were suspended indefinitely two days before the January 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections.
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