MPs’ murder trial opens
Nov 29, 2005
MPs Reagan Okumu and Mike Ocula yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Pabbo LC3 chairman, as the trial opened at the High Court in Kampala.
By Jude Etyang and Hillary Nsambu
MPs Reagan Okumu and Mike Ocula yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Pabbo LC3 chairman, as the trial opened at the High Court in Kampala.
Lack of an Acholi interpreter for the other three co-accused failed the hearing of the first witness in the case, a former LRA rebel.
Justice John Bosco Katutsi adjourned the hearing to today to enable court get an interpreter for the three non-English-speaking accused persons.
The MPs are senior officials of the opposition Forum for democratic Change and were appearing an hour after their leader Kizza Besigye had reported to the same court to get bail for treason and rape charges.
The other three accused persons are Steven Otim Olanya, Ochan Laryang and David Oceng.
The five were indicted with the murder of Alfred Bongomin on February 12, 2002 at Pabbo village in Gulu district.
The trial almost got off on a controversial note when the Judge found a sixth suspect, Alex Otim, on the indictment form, yet originally only five were charged.
The deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Simon Byabakama, admitted that Otim was wrongly named on the indictment and asked the court to cancel him.
MPs Reagan Okumu and Mike Ocula yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Pabbo LC3 chairman, as the trial opened at the High Court in Kampala.
Lack of an Acholi interpreter for the other three co-accused failed the hearing of the first witness in the case, a former LRA rebel.
Justice John Bosco Katutsi adjourned the hearing to today to enable court get an interpreter for the three non-English-speaking accused persons.
The MPs are senior officials of the opposition Forum for democratic Change and were appearing an hour after their leader Kizza Besigye had reported to the same court to get bail for treason and rape charges.
The other three accused persons are Steven Otim Olanya, Ochan Laryang and David Oceng.
The five were indicted with the murder of Alfred Bongomin on February 12, 2002 at Pabbo village in Gulu district.
The trial almost got off on a controversial note when the Judge found a sixth suspect, Alex Otim, on the indictment form, yet originally only five were charged.
The deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Simon Byabakama, admitted that Otim was wrongly named on the indictment and asked the court to cancel him.