Okot widow sues Col Otema
Nov 02, 2004
THE widow of celebrated author, Okot p’Bitek, has sued Gulu’s 4th battalion chief Col. Charles Otema for reportedly taking over the deceased’s family land.
By Stephen Muwambi
THE widow of celebrated author, Okot p’Bitek, has sued Gulu’s 4th battalion chief Col. Charles Otema for reportedly taking over the deceased’s family land.
A resident of Canada, Caroline Okot filed the case with the High Court, accusing Otema and his father, Ojok Awany, of trespassing on the 10-acre land, located near Gulu Barracks
Before going to court, Okot had on September 14, petitioned the President’s Office about the alleged trespass.
In her petition, she said she had always wanted to remove the remains of her husband from Gulu Chapel’s burial ground and offer him a decent burial at the deceased’s cemetery, but could not do so, before securing it from Otema.
In response, the President’s legal aide, Hussein Kashilingi, on October 5, directed the Gulu district Land Board to sort out the matter.
Kashilingi’s letter was copied to, among others, the district LC5 chairman, Col. Walter Ochola and Col. Otema.
Represented by Kakuru and Company Advocates, Okot says the struggle to win back the land has been on since 1986.
She accuses Otema of putting his father on the land, fencing it off and razing down her departed husband’s family burial grounds.
Okot adds that Otema claims to have bought the land from Mary Anek, who was divorced by p’ Bitek in 1965, adding that Anek did not have powers to dispose of the family land.
She asked court to evict Otema’s family from the land, order them to compensate p’Bitek’s family for the trespass and mental anguish and pay the costs of the suit.
Otema and his father were given 15 days to defend the suit.
THE widow of celebrated author, Okot p’Bitek, has sued Gulu’s 4th battalion chief Col. Charles Otema for reportedly taking over the deceased’s family land.
A resident of Canada, Caroline Okot filed the case with the High Court, accusing Otema and his father, Ojok Awany, of trespassing on the 10-acre land, located near Gulu Barracks
Before going to court, Okot had on September 14, petitioned the President’s Office about the alleged trespass.
In her petition, she said she had always wanted to remove the remains of her husband from Gulu Chapel’s burial ground and offer him a decent burial at the deceased’s cemetery, but could not do so, before securing it from Otema.
In response, the President’s legal aide, Hussein Kashilingi, on October 5, directed the Gulu district Land Board to sort out the matter.
Kashilingi’s letter was copied to, among others, the district LC5 chairman, Col. Walter Ochola and Col. Otema.
Represented by Kakuru and Company Advocates, Okot says the struggle to win back the land has been on since 1986.
She accuses Otema of putting his father on the land, fencing it off and razing down her departed husband’s family burial grounds.
Okot adds that Otema claims to have bought the land from Mary Anek, who was divorced by p’ Bitek in 1965, adding that Anek did not have powers to dispose of the family land.
She asked court to evict Otema’s family from the land, order them to compensate p’Bitek’s family for the trespass and mental anguish and pay the costs of the suit.
Otema and his father were given 15 days to defend the suit.