Otunnu summoned for defaming Museveni

By JOB BWIRE

Buganda Road Chief magistrate’s court has summoned the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party president, Olara Otunnu for allegedly defaming the President.

According to the the summons issued by the presiding magistrate Araali Muhiirwa, Otunnu is expected to appear before court on June 11 for plea for allegedly defaming President Museveni and also ignoring police and court summons over the matter.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Kampala Wednesday, Otunnu confirmed receiving the criminal summons in the morning, adding that he will comply with the court orders.

According to the summons, Otunnu is answerable to two charges that include libel against the person of the President of Uganda and failure to attend written court summons.

“I will go to court to hear the charges and I look forward to it. However, I stand by everything I have said about the President’s atrocities with regard to his impunity in the country,” said Otunnu.

Prosecution alleges that on January 16, 2013 while at the UPC party headquarters at Uganda House, Otunnu with intent to defame President Museveni allegedly made defamatory remarks.

The State further claims that on February 28, 2013 without reasonable excuse, Otunnu also ignored a police summon to appear before the Media Crime Department at CIID despite acknowledging receipt of the summons at a press conference he convened at Uganda House.

The UPC president’s troubles stem from a January 16 press conference he addressed and allegedly questioned the deaths of what he called President Museveni’s allies since the Front for National Salvation’s (Fronasa) struggles to date, saying they should be investigated.

However, Presidential Advisor on Media, John Nagenda, has since dismissed Otunnu’s remarks as unfortunate, and not deserving a reply.