A communication seen by Acholi Times alleged to be an email sent by Simon Toolit Akecha to his rival Jacob Oulanyah sensationally claims that the former Forum for Democratic Change Candidate (FDC) for Omoro County told Oulanyah that he would want to ‘‘join the ruling party and we work as a team for the development of our country.’’
The mail was sent yesterday via the messaging site WhatsApp to a Gulu journalist by Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah to ‘‘prove’’ his innocence against allegations that he did not have a hand in ‘‘abducting’’ his opponent
Acholi Times could not independently verify the authenticity of the email Oulanyah claims Toolit sent him.
Oulanyah is fighting allegations that he had a hand in last week’s disappearance of Toolit.
How it Began
Toolit’s family say he was abducted on Wednesday morning last week at around 3 am by unknown armed men and taken to an unknown destination.
After missing for four days, Toolit appeared at Kira road police station on Saturday morning at 5am were he is said to have told police that he had been abducted from his home in Gulu, blind folded, driven to Kampala and dumped near Kira road police station.
The email purported to be from Toolit to Oulanyah had in its subject line ‘‘Alternative Resolution/Reconciliation Settle (sic).’’
In it, the person claimed by Oulanyah to be Toolit writes: ‘‘ As we discussed with Amb Dr Robert, I wish to end this case by alternative resolution/reconciliation settle(sic) as the Judge handling the case is encouraging others to do so.’’
The email continues: ‘‘My interest as Amb Dr Robert might have told you is to join the ruling party and we work as a team for the development of our country.’’
The email was sent using the account stoolit@gmail.com. Acholi Times could not establish whether this is an account associated with Toolit neither could we establish who the Amb Dr Robert referred to in the email is.
Toolit is challenging the election of Jacob Oulanyah as the Omoro County MP at the Gulu high court. The case is being heard by Justice David Matovu, the Mbarara resident judge who is in Gulu to listen to election petitions in the Acholi sub region.
Justice Matovu from day one of the petition has been consistent in advising the politicians to settle their cases out of court.
‘‘Why don’t you settle this matters out of court because I am going to disappoint some of you,’’ the Judge said on the first day of hearing of the petition. ‘‘You have already spent a lot of money do you want to meet more costs?’’
Toolit Abducted Himself To Taint Me, Fires Back Oulanyah
Oulanyah claims Toolit stage-managed his [Toolit’s] abduction to taint his [Oulanyah’s name). Oulanyah said on Friday that he is being accused for what he did not do and ‘‘can never do in life.’’
Oulanyah also revealed that prior to the ‘‘staged managed abduction,’’ Toolit sent him a text message dated May 21 congratulating him for being elected the deputy speaker of the 10th parliament and assured him of reconciling for a better Omoro county and Uganda.
Oulanyah added that Toolit also sent him an email dated May 22 in which he assured him he has renewed his faith as a born again Christian with Apostle Salim of World Prophetic and Deliverance Ministries.
In the purported message seen by this reporter, Toolit assured Oulanyah that he wishes to end the case by alternative resolution/reconciliation settle as the judge handling the case has been encouraging him and others to do so.
According to Oulanyah, Mr Toolit is trying to run away from the court case since he lacks evidence by seeking cheap political attention from his sympathizers.
Mr Toolit who spoke for the first time to Acholi Times on Saturday in a telephone interview after his three days ‘‘abduction’’ maintained that his abduction was because of the poll petition he filed to challenge Oulanyah’s victory in court.
He said his kidnappers threatened the worst for him if he doesn’t withdraw from the court case.
“I have been aggressively warned to be ready for a worst experience if I go on with the court case against Oulanyah, I am confused at the moment and worried of my safety and that of my family,” Mr Toolit said using his wife’s phone number.
Last Wednesday, the Mbarara Resident Judge, Justice David Matovu set June 8 next month as date for delivering judgment on Toolit and Oulanyah poll petition case.
On Wednesday when Toolit disappeared, his lawyers cross-examined Gulu Election commission Registrar Benson Obete before the case closed and the Judge set the date for judgement. His disappearance therefor did not have any legal implications in his case against Oulanyah.
