The Electoral Commission Chairperson Eng Badru Kiggundu has asked police in Gulu to investigate Brig. Charles Otema Awany, the chief of logistics of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) for alleged electoral interference in the ongoing campaigns.
Kiggundu’s directive follows a complaint to the electoral body by the Gulu Woman Member Of Parliament, Betty Aol Ochan challenging the EC to refrain Otema from engaging in partisan politics.
Mrs Ochan accuses Brig Otema of campaigning for Catherine Lamwaka who is challenging her for the Gulu woman parliamentary seat.
Lamwaka, a former Gulu Resident District Commissioner resigned from office to challenge Mrs Ochan for the Gulu woman seat under the NRM ticket. Lamwaka is rumoured to have a romantic relationship with Brig Otema.
The UPDF officer has come under a barrage of attacks for his alleged involvement in partisan politics and for distributing millions of shillings to various groups in Gulu and Nwoya districts.
In a letter dated January 18, 2016, addressed to the Gulu returning officer and the Gulu district police Commander, Kiggundu wrote:
‘‘Please find herein attached a copy of a complaint on the above captioned lodged by Ms Ochan for both your attention and that of Brig Awany from whom a response is required within three days from the date of receipt of this communication.’’
‘‘Similarly, the commission should appreciate your response to the same within three days from date of receipt of this letter to enable it respond appropriately to the concerns raised in the said complaint,’’ Kiggundu further wrote.
“By a copy of this communication, the DPC Gulu is hereby requested to investigate into the concerns raised in the said complaint and share the report with the commission as soon as practicable.”
When contacted, Gulu district police commander Martin Okoyo denied receiving the letter from Kiggundu.
“I am yet to see the letter from the Electoral Commission. No letter has been brought to the police to probe Brig Awany,” said Okoyo.
In an impromptu interview on Thursday initiated by journalists for him to respond to the allegations against him, Brig Otema dismissed the accusations as baseless.
‘‘I am not campaigning for Catherine[ Lamwaka] but I am moving around as Chairman of Bongo Traders (a micro finance company in Gulu),’’ Otema said.
‘‘Bongo traders supports the community and gives them money to support their businesses. They the people invite me to the opening of their Boli Cup (saving schemes) and I advise them. That has been my interaction with community.’’ Otema said,
The army is constitutionally prohibited from engaging in partisan politics. Early this week, the UPDF arrested one of its own, Gen David Sejjusa, the former coordinator of Intelligence Services and charged him with four five counts including engaging in partisan politics. Sejusa has since been remanded to Luzira Maximum Security prison.
Brig. Otema denied receiving Kiggundu’s letter saying he was seeing it for the first time from journalists.
On Thursday morning, Gulu district Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, Gulu woman MP Betty Aol and Reagan Okumu of Aswa count once more attacked Brig Otema at an press conference at the Northern Uganda Media Club.
‘‘ As a citizen of this country I send a strong warning to Otema that as a serving officer he should desist from partisan politics,’’ Mapenduzi said
