US refutes Ofowono Opondo arrest story

Government spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo has refuted reports that he was detained at the US embassy in Uganda before he was denied visa.
Reports have since this morning been circulating on social media indicating that the government spokesperson was arrested and detained for 30 minutes by US security forces in the Consular section of the embassy when he went to apply for visa before he staged a loner protest inside the embassy.

However, describing the reports as fake news, Mr Opondo who doubles as Uganda Media Centre executive director, said on Tuesday that he had not been at the US embassy in “a very long time” and has no need to travel to the US because he’s comfortable in Uganda.
“Very FakeNews. I have not been to the US embassy in Uganda in a very very long time and have no need to travel to the US. I’m very comfortable in Uganda and more in Mulanda,” Mr Opondo tweeted on Tuesday.

The US mission in Uganda also said the story was false.

“A false news story is circulating about Ofwono Opondo being detained at the U.S. embassy. Mr Opondo did not appear at the embassy, nor was he arrested or detained on or near the embassy compound. This story is completely false, and Mr Opondo has confirmed this as well on Twitter,” the U.S mission in Uganda tweeted on Tuesday.

The development comes just months after US government slapped a travel ban on some government officials on different grounds including corruption and abuse of human rights.
On September 13, 2019, former Inspector General of police Gen Kale Kayihura was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for gross violation of Human rights when he was head of the Uganda Police Force.

Judiciary officials, including Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, were also reportedly subjected to humiliating questions as they sought to travel to the United States of America recently while the Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana, was blocked from travel amid the continued fallout over sanctions.
Justice Katureebe was reportedly subjected to several queries when he submitted a request for a Visa at the US Embassy in Kampala in September this year.