Akena Laid To Rest In Kitgum

Kenneth Watmon Akena who was on Wednesday afternoon laid to rest amidst calls from a section of political and religious leaders tasking government to expeditiously  and  independently investigate  the cause of  his death

Akena, a child rights activist was sent off by hundreds of mourners from different walks of life who thronged his ancestral village of Gang dyang in Pandwong division Kitgum municipality.

Fr Christopher Ojok, the parish priest of Omiya Onyima Catholic Parish told mourners’ government should bring Akena’s killer(s) to book.

Akena is alleged to have been shot by Matthew Kanyamunyu on Saturday in a yet-to-be identified place thought to be around Lugogo areas near Forest Mall and Game Stores.   Akena’s car is reported to have scratched Kanyamunyu’s leading him (Kanyamunyu) to pull out a pistol and shoot Akena.

Akena succumbed to his wounds in the stomach after he was admitted to hospital.

“The government, judiciary, security and everyone in the society should act on making sure that the deceased gets fair justice. His death was gruesome,” Fr Ojok told mourners.

The Fr noted murder is not acceptable before God adding that even humanity should not condone it.

“We pray that God should not let such a gruesome murder happen again on our son’s in Acholi sub region and especially in Kitgum district. We have had enough of our innocent some and daughters killed this year.’’

He asked the bereaved family members to turn to God for comfort during the trying moment in their lives.

The priest however lashed at some media outlets saying they are promoting tribalism through their bias reporting.

“I have read some of the headlines written by one of media outlets in the country and circulated on whatsapp, it’s very tribalistic. This is not an issue between the Acholi or Munyankole. It is a national issue that should be addressed by the government,” Fr Ojok told mourners.

Acholi Parliamentary Group representative Ms Catherine Oketayot Lowila also Woman Member of Parliament for Pader district tasked the inspector General of police Kale Kayihura to work on illegal possession of firearms among civilians.

“What will some of us and friends who don’t own fire arms do? We don’t own guns and police escorts; what will we for our safety? People are now owning guns anyhow in the country and the government needs to look into it carefully,” Ms Lowila said.

Police has since held Mr Kanyamunyu, the chief executive officer of Quantum Express Logistics, and his Burundian girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari to help in the ongoing investigation.

Mr Kanyamunyu and Munwangari were the ones who had transported Akena to the hospital.

According to police reports, the suspect were arrested after the deceased made a dying declaration to his brother Mr Paul Nyeko that the peole who transported him were indeed those who shot him.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda during a plenary session said government will brief parliament on the circumstances under which Akena, a community development officer was shot dead. End