The Forum Democratic Party (FDC) has asked the government to prosecute army officers engaged in partisan politics.
Speaking at press conference in Gulu early this week, FDC Deputy President for Northern Uganda and Aswa County Member of Parliament, Reagan Okumu alleged that some senior army officers in northern Uganda are engaged in partisan politics.
“We demand that serving army officers like Brig. Otema Awany (in Gulu) and Maj Gen. Oketta (from Amuru) and others be court martialed like General Sejusa for participating in partisan politics,’’ Okumu told journalists in Gulu.
‘‘We have recorded them openly dishing out billions of shillings to voters, intimidating voters. Each of them [Otema and Oketta) should be made to carry their cross,’’ said the FDC leader.
In a telephone interview, Maj Gen Oketta, the Director of National Emergency Coordination and Operation Centre (NECOC) in the office of the Prime Minster dismissed the allegations against him saying Mr. Okumu ‘‘just dreaming.’’
Maj Gen Oketta said many in the Opposition mistake his involvement in government programs like operation wealth creation as being partisan.
Section 99 of the UPDF Act 2005, bars serving army officers from seeking political appointment or engaging in partisan politics.
Last month, the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Badru Kigundu tasked Gulu District police commander Martin Okoyo investigate Brig. Otema Awany, the UPDF chief of for campaigning for Catherine Lamwaka, the former NRM candidate for the Gulu woman parliamentary seat and for campaigning for President Museveni.
In a recent interview with journalists at his Acholi Inn hotel, Brig Otema denied all the allegations against him saying he travels around meeting people in his capacity as Chairman of Bongo Traders, a micro finance organization in Gulu.
The EC directive to the Gulu district police commander followed a complaint filed to the EC by Reagan Okumu and Gulu Woman MP Betty Aol.
UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda said in a telephone interview that participation in partisan politics by serving army officers is unethical.
“UPDF is a professional institution that doesn’t involve itself in politics. It is , therefore, advisable that the police or the politicians come out with evidence against Brig. Otema so that the matter is formally is followed up,’’ said Lt Col Ankunda
Early this month, Gen David Sejusa was charged in the military court for alleged involvement in partisan politics and remanded to Luzira prison.
The former coordinator intelligence agencies is now facing charges in relation to remarks he made while in a brief exile in London in 2013 in which he said that the opposition candidate Kizza Besigye had won the 2006 elections but the results were twisted by intelligence operatives in favour of Museveni.
By Terrence Alur
