MOROTO, Uganda – Police in Moroto District in the Karamoja sub-region have arrested and detained officials of a non-governmental organization, Resource Rights Africa, for failure to pay borrowed money and service providers.
The officials, including Mr Andrew Kamara Byaruhanga, the organization’s Executive Director, were intercepted yesterday while allegedly trying to flee Moroto Town, where they have been operating.
They are currently being held at Moroto Police Station.
Several attempts to get a comment from the Police spokesperson for the Mt Moroto region were futile by the time of filing this story. Efforts to access information were reportedly hindered, with the District Police Commander, Abaho, said to be chasing away anyone who appeared to be a journalist from police premises.
However, a source working with Resource Rights Africa told The Ankole Times that Mr Andrew had been borrowing money from several people in the district but failed to repay, even after activities were implemented.
“This time around, he brought someone to do consultancy work for the organization and did not pay. The person reported the matter to police, and as he was trying to drive to Kampala, he was intercepted at Nadunget checkpoint,” the source said.
The source added that one individual is demanding Shs10 million, although the total amount agreed upon for the consultancy is not yet known.
Resource Rights Africa operates in Moroto, mainly sensitizing local communities about their rights in mining and accountability.
More details to follow…..
