MPs ruin peace efforts â€" Otema
BY telling people that President Yoweri museveni’s government is bad, opposition MPs are encouraging LRA rebels to continue fighting it, said the northern regional intelligence officer, Col. Charles Otema.
By Mary Karugaba
and Paul Kiwuuwa
BY telling people that President Yoweri museveni’s government is bad, opposition MPs are encouraging LRA rebels to continue fighting it, said the northern regional intelligence officer, Col. Charles Otema.
Appearing before the select committee on investigation into the assaulted MPs at parliament on Tuesday, Otema said some legislators were telling people that Museveni’s government, if not resisted, would take away their land.
“We have different levels of collaboration in the northern war,†he said.
He cited gun supply, material and moral support, saying many politicians were supporting rebels in at least one way.
Otema, however, denied allegations that the MPs were beaten because they were rebel collaborators.
MP Johnson Malinga (Kapelebyong) asked why MPs Latigo Ogenga (Agago), Odonga Otto (Aruu), Nyeko Ochula (Kilak) and Reagan Okumu (Aswa) were beaten last year when they had gone to consult on the White Paper.
Malinga said it was alleged that Otema ordered the beating.
“I never gave instructions and those who beat them were arrested. I forwarded the matter to the resident district commissioner and the Police. If I had wanted to beat them, I would have done it myself,†Otema said.
He condemned the MPs for failure to observe the ceasefire rules, which demanded that no political rally should take place in gazetted areas.
The MPs criticised Otema for stopping the rallies yet two days later MP Santa Okot was reportedly allowed to hold a rally there.
Ends
and Paul Kiwuuwa
BY telling people that President Yoweri museveni’s government is bad, opposition MPs are encouraging LRA rebels to continue fighting it, said the northern regional intelligence officer, Col. Charles Otema.
Appearing before the select committee on investigation into the assaulted MPs at parliament on Tuesday, Otema said some legislators were telling people that Museveni’s government, if not resisted, would take away their land.
“We have different levels of collaboration in the northern war,†he said.
He cited gun supply, material and moral support, saying many politicians were supporting rebels in at least one way.
Otema, however, denied allegations that the MPs were beaten because they were rebel collaborators.
MP Johnson Malinga (Kapelebyong) asked why MPs Latigo Ogenga (Agago), Odonga Otto (Aruu), Nyeko Ochula (Kilak) and Reagan Okumu (Aswa) were beaten last year when they had gone to consult on the White Paper.
Malinga said it was alleged that Otema ordered the beating.
“I never gave instructions and those who beat them were arrested. I forwarded the matter to the resident district commissioner and the Police. If I had wanted to beat them, I would have done it myself,†Otema said.
He condemned the MPs for failure to observe the ceasefire rules, which demanded that no political rally should take place in gazetted areas.
The MPs criticised Otema for stopping the rallies yet two days later MP Santa Okot was reportedly allowed to hold a rally there.
Ends