Outgoing Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party president Ambassador Dr Olara Otunu has demanded for the release of Dan Oola Odiya, UPC National Deputy Secretary for Mobilization and the party Spokesman for Acholi sub region.
Initial unconfirmed reports suggested that Mr Odiya was last night last night abducted by unknown gunmen in Gulu town as he went home at around 8 pm.
Police in Gulu has, however, said they have in their custody for an undisclosed ‘‘sensitive’’ crime.
According to a boda bids cyclist who witnessed the arrest, Oola was approached by an unknown man while he was on the verge of boarding a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) to take him home. The unknown man took a resisting Odiya by the roadside and pulled out a pistol, and was joined by other men who dragged the UPC officials to awaiting car and drove away as Odiya shouted for help.
Dr Otunu while speaking to the press on the sidelines of a meeting of Acholi leaders at St. Monica Tailoring School in Gulu town today demanded that the government should explain the abduction of the UPC official, tasking especially the Inspector General of police and the minister of internal affairs to release Mr Oola Dan Odiya.
In Gulu Mr Odiya is known as a strong supporter of UPC and is reportedly a close Otunnu ally.
‘‘We are gravely concerned with the violent abduction off Oola, the government should tell us what is going on but so far the police has not even given a hint as to his whereabouts,” said Otunnu. At the time he addressed the press, the police had not yet said they were holding Odiya.
Dr Otunu said he is saddened that political leaders in Acholi are being kidnapped but the government has no idea or explanations to give the people.
The abduction of Oola comes barely three weeks after the alleged abduction of former Omoro County Member of Parliament Simon Toolit Akecha.
Toolit, a rival to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah was reportedly abducted from his home in African Quarters Pece Division on May 25 by three unknown gunmen who whisked him to unknown location.
He later surfaced in Kampala city three days later where he recorded a statement at Kira road Police station before suing Oulanyah over alleged involvement in his kidnap.
1 Comment
Lad it Otunnu, we expect you to use a tougher tone as you address the issue at hand. As one of the few remaining Acholi leaders, we demand that you remind Museveni and his security men that they should let a sleeping dog lie. We also expect an immediate and unconditional release of Odiya by the illegimate Museveni government.