East African Law Society condemns police raid on law firm
By Frederic Musisi
The East African Law Society (EALS) has condemned the manner in which officials from police Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) stormed the law firm of Osinde and Company Advocates during the ongoing pension scam inquiries.
On November 13, CIID officials raided the law firm, which is linked to two suspects implicated in the pension scam, and confiscated files containing information concerning their property.
Ms Grace Akullo, the CIID boss, said then that intelligence revealed that records of the suspects’ documented hidden wealth were in the custody of their lawyers hence necessitating the raid.
The suspects under investigations are Mr David Oloka, a senior assistant accountant in the Public Service Ministry and Christopher Obey, the principal accountant.
A statement from EALS said that the CIID officers descended on the law firm, proceeded to search and carry away unspecified volumes of client files by force, duress, harassment and intimidation.
“The EALS joins issue with the Uganda Law Society in condemning in the strongest terms possible the said raid,” read part of the statement. The society urged government to respect all communications and consultations between lawyers and their clients within their professional relationship that is confidential and should not be the subject of interference by third parties.
The regional lawyers’ body vowed to provide the Uganda Law Society all support in challenging the provisions of the municipal law under which the Ugandan police continues to violate the lawyer-client confidentiality principle.
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