United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

Ongoing Projects in Eastern Africa

The legislative frameworks to combat organized crime, money laundering and the financing of terrorism are weak in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda leaving these countries vulnerable and attractive to criminals, tempted to use them as safe havens. The long-term objective of this project is to reduce incidences of terrorism, financing of terrorism, and money laundering in these countries. The immediate objective is to strengthen national capacities to more effectively and comprehensively prevent, investigate and prosecute terrorism, counter-terrorism financing and money laundering, including building up capacity and expertise in the area of asset forfeiture in Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The project strategy is two-pronged, namely: (i) to assist in the development of national counter-terrorism and anti-money-laundering legislation and regulations in line with international standards and norms, and (ii) to strengthen the capacity of the Governments of Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania to implement the said legislation on counter-terrorism under the broad framework of respect for civil liberties and human rights by training the judiciary, prosecutors and investigators in the application of the legislation. The strategy includes the establishment of control mechanisms to combat counter-terrorism financing and money laundering, as well as training of relevant government authorities and private banks on the implementation of the new legislations.