A prominent Gulu businessman David Lakony popularly known as ‘‘Onyona’’ has been arrested by police over the death of a family of five who died last week after the hut in which they were sleeping was set ablaze in a suspected case of arson.
Mr Lakony was arrested on Saturday and is currently detained at Gulu Central Police.
Aswa region police spokesman Jimmy Patrick Okema confirmed the arrest of Lakony who owns Davitine Hotel in Gulu town. He also owns a property on the main street in Gulu which houses the service centre for the telecommunications giant, MTN.
Police say Mr Lakony was arrested to help in investigation of the murder. Police did not explain any further the reason for the arrest.
But sources who spoke to Acholi Times said Mr Lakony has been involved in a land wrangle with the family of Kennedy Oketta alias Wod Aceng, 48, a well-known regular caller on Gulu- based popular radio station, Mega FM.
Lakony is said to have won a court case on the land and the late Oketta had reportedly shifted from the land the after the court ruling.
The late Oketta his wife Agnes Apiyo 32 and their three children Rebecca Lapolo, Gumkura Jonanthan and Laker Angel Lucky all perished in the tragic fire.
The family members were burnt to death at around 2 am on Thursday morning last week.
Another suspect Okot Patrick Ayweri is also being detained by police in Nwoya central police station over the same attack. He was arrested last Thursday.
Meanwhile Nwoya district Resident Commissioner Akello Beatrice Akori condemned the arson and murder of the late Oketta and his family members.
