UDC in dirty money row

Fresh information has revealed that the current Government of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) might have benefited from laundered funds for its campaign which ultimately landed them in power.

UDC pulled the rug from under the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) by winning power in a sweeping landslide during the October 2024 general election.

The revelations have been made by a suspended Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) senior officer Pulane Kgoadi who has made damning allegations against the DIS Director General Peter Magosi.

Pulane was accused of having participated in the laundering of funds amounting to P4 million from international sources, in collaboration with former President Ian Khama who is currently the Bangwato kgosikgolo, UDC agents and its president the current Head of State, Advocate Duma Boko.

According to a letter written by Pulane’s lawyers- Monthe Marumo and Company to the Commissioner of Police Diana Marathe, “the said amount was allegedly found in her possession and thereafter taken into police custody; That she was suspected of participating in the laundering of funds from international sources, in collaboration with former President Dr. Ian Khama, purportedly to finance the political activities of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC); and That the officers were allegedly in possession of correspondence evidencing communications between our client, the former President, and UDC agents including its President; the current President of the Republic of Botswana.”

The lawfirm has written to the Commissioner of Police indicating that they act on behalf of Pulane, who has instructed them to institute urgent proceedings before the High Court seeking various reliefs arising from her suspension, arrest, and interrogation.

The substance of the reliefs, according to the lawfirm relates to the circumstances surrounding Client's involvement in the Air Botswana investigations and the subsequent actions taken against her and her colleagues.

“Our Client was part of a special investigative team assigned to probe allegations involving Air Botswana, including matters of safety, maladministration, and issues bearing upon national security. On or about the 21st March 2024, our Client, together with four colleagues all officers of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) was arrested by police officers acting jointly with officers of the DIS.

Our client was released from detention on the 23rd March 2024. Prior to the arrests, our client had been personally instructed by His Excellency the former President, Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, to undertake investigations into alleged misconduct in which the name of the Director General of the DIS, Retired Brigadier Peter Fana Magosi, had been mentioned,” the letter dated 29th October 2025 by attorney Onkutlule Keipeile reads.

According to the lawfirm the investigations were duly conducted in strict compliance with the President's directives, and all material obtained, including an audio recording of an interview with a whistleblower, was submitted to the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) for the president's consideration. We are instructed that the Director General, Retired Brigadier Magosi, was subsequently and improperly informed of this covert investigation and was furnished- contrary to the confidentiality of the assignment- with sensitive investigative material, including the said audio recording, by the PSP, Ms. Emma Peloetletse, the letter reads.

It further states that thereafter, in an apparent attempt to discredit and pre-empt the investigation, the PSP allegedly initiated a false and retaliatory inquiry against Pulane and her colleagues,

resulting in their suspension and, ultimately, their arrests.

Keipeile stated in the letter that the clear intent was to undermine the original investigation, destroy its credibility, and tarnish the reputations of the investigators.

“The arrests and detentions appear calculated to frustrate the ongoing investigations and to destroy or confiscate critical evidence gathered by our client and her team. This is supported by the extensive searches conducted at their offices and residences, and the seizure of personal and official communication devices. At the time of our client's arrest, police officers: Mr Senior Superintendent Mangoyi and Mr. Olebile, acting jointly with DIS officers, alleged as follows: That our client had allegedly received the sum of P4 million from suspects previously investigated by her in an unrelated fraud matter.”

Keipeile has explained to the police boss that given the gravity of the matter and its implications for both national security and the rule of law, “we wish to consult with you urgently, as we consider you a potential and critical witness in these proceedings”.

The lawfirm wrote, Should you be unavailable for consultation, we respectfully request that you confirm the following in writing: Whether you authorised or instructed the secondment of the said police officers to the DIS, and whether such action was taken at the request of the Director General to yourself; Whether you or the Botswana Police Service are in possession of, or have custody of, the alleged sum of P4 million purportedly recovered from our client or any of her colleagues.

'We attach hereto, a copy of the letter written by Mr. Mangoyi received by our client on the 20th September 2024 confirming that the alleged investigation leading to her arrest had been completed. Since our client has not been charged pursuant to that arrest and investigation, can you confirm whether the amount of P4 million allegedly found in her possession was ever returned to her and when; Whether you or your office are in possession of any alleged correspondence or documentation purporting to link our client to the former President or agents of the UDC and the current President of Botswana; We trust that it will not become necessary to invoke legal procedures to compel disclosure of the above information, given its significance to national security and the broader public interest'.

These claims remain untested in court, and no official comment has been issued by the Office of the President, the DIS, or the Botswana Police Service. As of publication, the Commissioner of Police has not publicly responded to the letter. The matter remains under legal review, and all individuals named are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.