The out-going UPC party leader, Olara Otunu has tasked government to speed up the trial of its jailed senior leader, Dan Oola Odiya.
On Wednesday morning, Odiya appeared before Paul Owino, the Gulu Grade I Magistrate for the mention of his case. He was further remanded to Gulu Central Government Prisons until the July 13.
Mr Odiya, the deputy National Secretary for Mobilization and the party’s spokesman for the Acholi region was arrested and charged with treason, concealment of information, two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The charges relate to an attack in May this year on an military installation in Opit in Lakwana Sub county, Gulu district which left two people dead including an army officer.
Addressing the press on Wednesday morning in Gulu, Olara Otunu said Uganda’s constitution requires a trial should be open and expeditious irrespective of ideological inclination, tribe and religion.
Otunu, a former United Nations diplomat and graduate of law from Harvard and Oxford Universities said Oola Dan Odiya should not be disadvantaged because of being a UPC members but should rather be treated as a Ugandan with a right to fair hearing.
The outgoing UPC leader revealed at the press conference that he is in the process of applying for bail for Odiya. Otunnu revealed health reasons and the fact that Odiya is a reputable Uganda in addition to having eminent Ugandans for surety as grounds that they will use to ask for bail.
Norbert Mao, the DP President has on Monday afternoon last week revealed that Odiya looks well but have contracted Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) due poor sanitation at the Gulu Central Police Station.
According to Mao, at Gulu Central Police Station cell which was meant for four people (suspects), it is used to accommodate over 20.
UPC has secured the service of Peter Wabiliri, a renowned constitution lawyer to represent Odiya.
