Evans Ochieng, the Criminal law giant and also personal lawyer to flamboyant Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among has confirmed to the mighty Grapevine that he has filed a bail application at Soroti High Court for police officers who President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered to be slapped with criminal charges over dusty Bukedea district chairperson by-election.
In June 2023, president Museveni directed Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke the commandant of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate allegations that government officials were involved in the dirty by-elections which resulted into injuring a one David Stephen Omagor who was denied the opportunity to participate in the by-election and was robbed of Shs163m.
The by-election was won by National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Mary Akol who was supported by speaker Among.
However, after the election, Museveni was told that Akol’s victory was as a result of violence orchestrated by party big wings in Teso region.
Among the government officials who were arrested include; Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Wilberforce Tukei, the District Police Commander (DPC) Charles Okoto, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) Mahmoud Oluka and Dan Malinga, the District Councilor representing Bukedea Town Council.
Upon arrest, they were charged with offences of neglect to prevent a felony and were released on Court bail.
However, other officers who include; Alex Enguloit, the officer in charge of criminal investigations at Bukedea Central Police Station; Police Constable Onesmus Akankwasa; D/C Simon Peter Oriokot; Police Constable Difas Kamakoin and Police Constable Born Naibei were charged with offences of murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated torture.
State alleges that the accused persons participated in the murder of Paul Anguria and Alex Enguliot.
They were arrested from Kachumbala in Bukedea district.
Highly placed sources at the Office of the Speaker revealed to theGrapevine that their boss directed his lawyer Ochieng together with Caleb Alaka to make sure that the accused persons are released explaining that they are being persecuted by her opponents in Teso region because of their allegiance to her.
Among trusts Alaka and Ochieng so much because they were the ones who saved her from one of her competitor for Bukedea district woman Member of Parliament seat Hallen Akol who fought up to the Supreme Court challenging Among’s unopposed win.
Akol accused late Wilson Masalu Musene of conniving with Among and denying her the opportunity to contest for the same seat in 2021 parliamentary election when a court order issued to Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama not to nominate her on allegation of not having the required academic papers.
Sources explained to theGrapevine that two top government officers including one army general persuaded President Museveni to take a directive to apprehend the said security officers with the aim of weakening Among’s political ambitions.
Sources claimed that the female politician who reported Among to Museveni for fueling violence in Bukedea is very sure that with Among’s popularity, her chances of retaining his top government job in the coming years is limited.
Sources added that the female politician from Teso directed that the officers who are still in prisons be imprisoned in Soroti not in Bukedea fearing that they can be released without her knowledge and she is seriously following the bail application filed by Ochieng.
But Among is also using her contacts which she used to release the Bukedea district RDC and the DPC to help the remaining officers secure their freedom.
Sources added that Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s visit to Bukedea relieved some pressure off Among because her enemies were moving around the entire region telling voters that she is in bad books with the first family.
In Bukedea, Among declares support for Gen. Muhoozi as the next President of Uganda replacing his father. She explained that in Bukedea, they believe in father, son and the holy spirit.
Henry Peter Adonyo, the Soroti Resident High Court Judge has not yet announced the day to entertain the officer’s bail application.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
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