The former chairman of Gulu Veteran Development Association has protested his detention for longer than the constitutionally stipulated 48 hours without being charged in court.
Patrick Omara was arrested on Wednesday last week at around 5pm from Gulu town and was by Sunday still being held at Gulu Central police.
“I have been in cell for 128 hours,’’ Omara told Acholi Times on Sunday ‘‘ I asked for police bond. They [police] said they would work on it. I feel so bad. But I know my rights. They cannot keep me here for more than 48 hours.’’
Omara was arrested on allegations of misappropriating over 200m shillings meant for veterans, according to Gulu district police Commander Martin Okoyo.
According to the charge sheet which Acholi Times saw, Omara was charged with theft.
Omara admits that his office received sh193m from the president for the establishment of a complex Commercial center at Laroo as a monument in memory of National Resistance Army(NRA) veterans.
But he said the project was halted by a court injunction after a conflict arose over the ownership of the land on which the monument was to be constructed. This, Omara said, happened shortly after the president commissioned the project in 2013.
“The president commissioned the construction on the land which did not have title. We were dragged to court and this retarded our plan,” Omara said.
Omara claims some of the money from the president for the veterans was used to pay for an architectural plan for the monument and to buy a 35 acres piece of land at Palenga, along the Gulu-Kampala highway.
Omara’s arrested coincided with president Museveni’s campaign in the Acholi sub region.
“Why wait for all these time, and arrest me when campaign is ongoing”, Omara asked, suggesting his arrest could be linked to the ongoing electioneering.
Omara took over the veterans’ office in February 2013 and served for two years and left amidst allegations of corruption against his leadership.
When asked about Omara’s detention beyond the legally stipulated 48 hours, Gulu DPC Martin Okoyo said: “We are waiting for advice from Residential State Attorney( RSA) on what to do with the case.”.
One of the veterans who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said veterans are bitter with what is happening in their association.
Gulu Veteran Development Association has over 5,000 members from the districts of Gulu, Amuru and Nwoya.
By Willy Chowoo
