"In an appalling abuse of the legal system, Uganda plans to detain human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo through the Christmas holiday," said the chairman on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Eliot Engel.
Nicholas Opiyo: Uganda s rebellious rights lawyer
Ugandan human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo has campaigned for civil rights and political freedoms. For this, he has paid a high price. His clients have included Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine.
Nicholas Opiyo is a leading human rights lawyer and founder of the rights organization Chapter Four Uganda. Since 2005, Opiyo has worked to promote civil liberties in Uganda, often pro bono.
Amongst others, Opiyo has been representing Stella Nyanzi, a Ugandan academic charged with cyber-harassment and offensive communication for her comments about Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and presidential hopeful Bobi Wine, Museveni s strongest challenger in next month s elections.
Rights groups urge release of detained Ugandan rights lawyer
by Rodney Muhumuza, The Associated Press
Posted Dec 23, 2020 4:15 am EDT
Last Updated Dec 23, 2020 at 4:26 am EDT
KAMPALA, Uganda Human Rights Watch and other rights groups are urging Ugandan authorities to free a prominent rights attorney who is being held by police over criminal allegations.
Nicholas Opiyo, who has represented opposition figures and minority groups, was arrested on Tuesday while eating at a restaurant in a suburb of Kampala, the capital. Police say he is held on charges of “money laundering and related malicious acts.” Opiyo is yet to be officially charged.