Two months after government ordered the freezing of bank accounts of Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS), a civil society organization, Godber Tumushabe who heads the organization has penned a letter to the Police boss pleading to have the bank accounts temporarily opened.
Tumushabe has requested the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura to consider giving him and other affected staff temporary access to the accounts to cater for their expenditure during the festive season.
Bank of Uganda ordered for the bank accounts held by GLISS in Bank of Africa to be closed following a Police investigation on the independent policy think tank. Police accuses GLISS of money laundering and conspiracy to commit felony.
In the letter dated December 20, Godber Tumushabe requests Gen Kayihura “for temporary access so I can access funds to meet my Christmas holiday expenses and pay tuition for my children”.
Tumushabe further explains that the organization has since accumulated outstanding loan obligations that can not be settled if the accounts remain closed. He has also lobbied on behalf of some staff who had their accounts frozen, saying that lack of financial access was affecting them negatively.
“I would also love to use this opportunity to plead with you that the accounts of two of our staff; Shawn Mubiru and that of a former staff Emmanuel Kitamirike be unfrozen since any extra minute they are adversely affected,”
Tumushabe says that closure of accounts belonging to individuals who are legitimately associated with GLISS is a persecution not an investigation.
In addition, he has sought from the Police chief what the intentions of police were when the GLISS offices were raided as well as why no information has been divulged in regard to investigation.
“We believe we are law abiding citizens engaged in legitimate research and civic activities and hence we consider the actions of the Uganda Police or those on whose behalf the alleged investigation on is being conducted to be engaged in persecuting our organization and staff unfairly,” Tumushabe’s letter to Kayihura read in part.