Uganda has deported an American national who is a co-founder of ShuleFoundation, a charity organisation that has been helping needy children access education in the country. Authorities accused her of violating immigration laws.
Human rights lawyer, Mr Nicholas Opiyo on Monday said Ms Jacqueline Wolfson was arrested and deported on Sunday via a KLM flight out of Entebbe at about 11.45pm.
Reports said Wolfson was also accused of using her NGO to fund a member of parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi populary known as Bobi Wine and his People Power Movement, which is in opposition.
But government spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, the Executive Director, Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday said Ms Wolfsom had been deported for allegedly violating immigration laws.
“This is to inform the public that Jacqueline Wolfson holding a tourist visa, but passing as a charity giver under #ShuleFoundation has been removed from Uganda for violation of immigration laws,” he said. “Further, there is no record at immigration that Jacqueline Wolfsom has ever applied for a work permit since 2014 when she has been visiting Uganda,” – Mr Opondo.
Her deportation came just minutes after President Yoweri Museveni in a four-hour address to the nation accused “external forces” of trying to foment trouble by funding his political opponents in a bid to undermine the country’s image abroad and “sabotage” Uganda’s growth.
Mr Museveni, who took power in 1986, claimed “foreign money” was being funnelled to his political opponents by unnamed NGOs to pay young people to organise riots in order to “show the world Uganda is not stable”.
“The undisciplined opposition politicians that are accused of terrorism against the population, conspiracy to commit arson or treason should be handled firmly,” he asserted.
