The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has summoned six officials of AGORA Centre for Research Ltd to record statements in connection with investigations into alleged fraud and money laundering. Those summoned include Henry Otafiire, Godwin Toko, Haggai Matsiko, Patrick Murungi, and Agather Atuhaire. While some of the officials are expected to appear before investigators today, Atuhaire has been directed to report to the Kampala Metropolitan North Regional Police Headquarters in Kawempe on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
According to a summons dated June 24, 2026, and signed by the Kampala Metropolitan North Regional CID Officer, Superintendent of Police Rashida Naluzze, the interviews are intended to assist investigations into suspected fraud and money laundering involving AGORA Centre for Research Ltd. “The purpose of the meeting is to conduct an interview and record a statement in relation to the matter under investigation,” the summons states. Responding to the summons, Atuhaire welcomed what she described as the authorities’ adherence to due process.
“I guess we should be grateful that a whole army didn’t come to raid our homes and disappear us for days, but we were decently summoned to answer whatever questions they have. That means the authorities didn’t forget what the law requires, so we hope this is how every Ugandan will be treated going forward,” she said. AGORA Centre for Research Ltd is among several civil society organisations whose bank accounts were frozen in February 2026 following directives from the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA). At the time, FIA Executive Director Samuel Wandera said the agency had acted within its mandate to halt suspicious financial transactions pending investigations.
Sources familiar with the investigations allege that over the past five years, AGORA Centre for Research and the African Institute for Investigative Journalism handled transactions totalling approximately 70 billion Shillings without adequately disclosing the source or intended purpose of the funds. The sources further claim that the Financial Intelligence Authority had been monitoring the accounts and that the signatories were unable to satisfactorily explain the origin of the funds or their intended use.
However, AGORA has strongly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that it has always operated within the law and is prepared 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. “Our mandate is to promote transparency, accountability and human rights in Uganda. We have cooperated with the Financial Intelligence Authority and provided all the requested documentation over two months ago. We have received no feedback since,” the statement reads.
AGORA further argued that the freezing of its accounts and the summons issued to its officials form part of a broader pattern of pressure against civil society organisations that scrutinise public institutions. “We will comply with all lawful processes. But we are concerned that these actions risk intimidating organisations whose work focuses on exposing corruption and advancing the public interest,” the organisation said.
In recent months, the government, through the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations, security agencies and the Financial Intelligence Authority, has intensified scrutiny of civil society organisations accused of advancing alleged foreign interests, although no specific organisations were publicly identified. At least ten organisations were indefinitely suspended two days before the January 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections.
AGORA Centre for Research operates Agora Discourse, a digital platform that promotes human rights, public accountability and social justice. One of its executive leaders, Agather Atuhaire, is a lawyer and investigative journalist widely known for reporting on corruption and governance-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
