Outgoing Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) President was Thursday evening denied access to detained party official Dan Oola Odiya.
Mr Oola Odiya is the UPC’s Deputy National secretary for Mobilisation and the party’s spokesperson for the Acholi sub region. He was arrested Wednesday evening in Gulu town as he planned to head home. Initial reports said he had been abducted. But police in Gulu said Thursday that he was in their custody. Police declined to say why Mr Oola Odiya had been arrested.
Otunnu had moved to police with family members of the detained UPC official demanding to see him but was told that he could not without the clearance from the the Aswa region police commander, Wilson Kwanya.
When Kwanya arrived at around 7:30am, he held a brief meeting with Olara Otunu and Odiya’s family members at the Gulu Central police station.
Kwanya told Olara Otunnu that it was past time for him(Otunnu) visit the UPC spokesperson for the Acholi region. Kwanya also informed Otunnu that the suspect had not yet recorded any statement. And that he was still being held as stipulated under the law as the constitutionally mandated 48 hours for holding suspects had not elapsed.
Otunnu insisted on seeing Odiya but the police commander declined saying the outgoing UPC party leader could see Odiya on tomorrow( Friday) morning.
The RPC said without explaining that Odiya’s detention is for ”national security” reasons and that security organs are verifying the accusations against the suspect.
Odiya is known vocal UPC supporter and is reported to be close to Otunnu.
Otunnu condemned the police for denying him access to Odiya and said the police had abducted the UPC official.
Dan Oola Odiya, according to eyewitnesses was arrested on Wednesday evening around 8pm in Gulu town by plain- clothed armed men who took him to Aswa Police regional headquarter before being transferred to 4th Division barracks and later brought to Gulu central police at around midnight.
