GULU CITY, February 22, 2026 — Journalists in Gulu City are expected to improve their reporting on money laundering and terrorism financing following a training organised by the Financial Intelligence Authority [FIA], a government agency mandated to protect the financial system of the country by detecting and preventing financial crimes.
As such, the journalists were trained on how to detect and report on financial crimes in the country that loses about Shs 10 trillion annually to corruption.
Journalists play a critical role in reporting on money laundering [ML] and terrorist financing [TF]. These illicit activities, which drain trillions of dollars from the global economy annually, often operate in the shadows, undermining the stability of financial systems and fuelling crime.
It was noted during the training that investigative journalists should continue to play their watchdog by exposing the complex, cross-border and often sophisticated methods used by criminals and terrorists, thereby promoting accountability and policy reform.
Uganda was officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force [FATF] “grey list” of countries under increased monitoring on February 23, 2024.
The grey list refers to jurisdictions subject to enhanced monitoring by the FATF due to strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering [AML], counter-terrorist financing [CFT], or proliferation financing frameworks.
Uganda exited the FATF grey list after demonstrating improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems. Placement on the grey list indicates that a country is at elevated risk for financial crime, although it has committed to strengthening its regulatory systems.
Allan Kaganzi, Compliance and Outreach Officer at the FIA, said crimes linked to money laundering in Northern Uganda include the trafficking of refugees, smuggling and poaching in Murchison Falls National Park.
Kaganzi, who was speaking during a workshop held at Palema Hotel in Gulu City on Tuesday, said: “It is your role to sensitise the public against being complicit in money laundering.”
He cited allowing strangers to use one’s mobile phone to make calls as one-way individuals can unwittingly become accomplices in money laundering and terrorism financing.
Kaganzi added that hotels and lodges should remain vigilant by registering all their guests.
“Keep records of all your guests, where they have come from and, if possible, where they are heading next. This will safeguard you in case of any issue,” he said.
Gloria Aloyo, Gulu District Communication Officer and a participant in the training, raised concerns that many foreigners have acquired land and constructed rental apartments contrary to the law.
“The law states that foreigners cannot own land; they can only lease it. However, we have cases where foreigners are owning land. The land is usually registered in the name of a local person to make it appear legitimate, but rental payments are deposited into a bank account belonging to a foreigner,” Aloyo said.
Peter Banya, Gulu Resident City Commissioner in charge of Laroo-Pece Division, blamed locals for selling land to foreigners in disregard of the law.
“Foreign refugees are not legally permitted to own land; they are only allowed to settle. However, local people are the ones selling land to these foreigners and refugees,” Banya said.
Banya said some refugees who are meant to reside in designated settlements have instead moved into communities.
“Some of them are supposed to be in refugee settlements, but the law governing refugees in our country is somewhat different. That is why you find South Sudanese refugees spread throughout our community,” he said.
He added that some refugees have allegedly changed their names to local ones and obtained National Identity Cards in order to integrate more easily and acquire property.
https://thecooperator.news/sierra-leone-and-afdb-target-us-90bln-in-annual-illicit-financial-flows/
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