Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao yesterday visited at Gulu Central Prisons jailed Uganda Peoples Congress deputy secretary for mobilization Dan Oola Odiya.
Odiya was last week remanded to Gulu prison by Grade 1 Magistrate, Paul Owino. Odiya was charged with five counts including treason, one count of concealment of treason, two counts of murder by shooting and one count of attempted murder.
Odiya was arrested by police on allegations of masterminding the attacks on Opit Local Defence Unit (LDU) detach in Lakwana Sub County Gulu district that left two people dead while eight guns seized.
Odiya will be back in court on 29 June when his case will come up for mention.
Mao’s visit came a day after police fired teargas on his supporters after his (Mao’s) rally was blocked by police in Gulu.
Mao visited Odiya shortly after he and Gulu Municipality MP Lyandro Komakech and his Kilak County counterpart Gilbert Olanya and former Aruu North MP Lucy Achiro addressed a joint press conference on the security situation on Gulu.
The DP leader and the members of parliament he visited Odiya with were initially stopped but were later allowed in by the prison authorities.
Posting on Facebook on that same day, Mao said Odiya looked well but complained that he had contracted a Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) due poor sanitation at the Gulu Central Police Station.
Mao said Odiya is being held in a prison which was meant for four people but is now occupied by over 20.
He said the suspects ease themselves in containers within the crowded cell, exposing them to a variety of infections including venereal diseases and urinary tract infections.
He asked the prisons authorities to ensure that Odiya receive urgent medical treatment.
Odiya who is also the UPC spokesperson for Acholi sub-region was arrested by plain-clothed security men only to surface at Gulu Central Prison.
Security alleges that the attack on Gulu central police was an attempt to rescue Odiya.
