By Tobbias Nkaaga
Kampala-Uganda
The joint security organizations in Uganda are hunting for Hassan Waliggo, a resident of Salama-Munyonyo in Kampala on accusations of coordinating the secret ‘fundraising campaigns’ of the country’s leading opposition party of the National Unity Platform-NUP.
The security organization comprising the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence-CIM, Internal Security Organization-ISO, and Police Crime Intelligence claims that Waliggo has been at the centre of receiving funds from abroad and within the country to fund open-air campaigns for NUP contrary to the government’s wish.
On 16 June 2020, the Uganda Electoral Commission-UEC issued a press release banning public rallies for the 2021 political campaigns as part of the country’s COVID-19 containment measures.
However, this has since caused protests, especially among opposition-leaning political groups and civil society organizations claiming the move intends to give NRM a slide victory.
Last week on Friday, Waliggo was arrested in a group of about 30 NUP supporters planning to conduct open campaigns but given a police bond on the presumption that he belongs to the ruling party.
The latest information obtained by security indicates that Waliggo presents himself as a member of the Yellow Brigade, a national youth wing for the ruling party of the National Resistance Movement-NRM but instead an undercover to execute duties of NUP without disruption.
The CMI Commander Maj Gen Abel Kandiho says funds collected by Waliggo have been used by NUP to support political insurgencies in various parts of the country including Jinja, Masaka, Kampala, and Mbale cities.
He cited among others the famous ‘Free Bobi Wine’ protests which broke out in several parts of the country between November 18 and 19 2020, as supporters of the NUP presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine demanded his unconditional release after he had been arrested in Luuka District, Eastern Uganda. The protest left over 54 people shot dead and several others injured.
“We are not against any parties’ effort to fundraise money for their activities, but the process should be done in the limelight. Hiding in another party is criminal, it invokes intelligence to question the source of funding and the intention. Funding insurgencies in the country is tantamount to treason whose punishment is death.” He noted addressing journalists at the Media Centre.
Lately, Waliggo’s whereabouts remain unknown, our anonymous insider in security confinements has revealed that Waliggo is wanted to reveal the sources where NUP gets money and resources.
His workplace and home are under security surveillance to have him arrested at any time. Waliggo works as a manager at Ibn Solar Limited in Naguru. On Tuesday, detectives from the Criminal Investigations headquarters at Kampala searched the place before confiscating two computers and six dairies from his office to support their investigations.
This website has reliably learned from security corners that Waliggo and a few other aids use the confiscated gadgets beyond the solar station works. It also reaches out to potential donors through phone calls and direct mail to convince them to contribute towards the NUP campaign.
The political landscape remains terrible for Waliggo and many people involved in efforts to create a new political landscape (change of military government)
The Deputy NUP Spokesperson, Waisswa Mufumiro says security agencies have been raiding different NUP and individual offices in various parts of the country and confiscating several items regarded as military regalia, including red berets, on top of arresting Bobi Wine supporters.
He says the move is intended to frustrate their efforts to reach out to people as well as suffocate freedom of expression.
The situation has created instability in the country forcing many people to seek asylum in the neigbouring countries and some others in European countries such as Germany, America, and Canada to save their lives.
Nonetheless, thousands have been arrested and sent to prison, and others especially those trailed down by the military have been abducted instead, taken to unknown destinations and their whereabouts remain unknown.
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