Mao pleads for treason suspects
Jul 05, 2009
GULU district chairperson Nobert Mao has called for the release of the 11 suspected Uganda People’s Front (UPF) rebels held in Luzira Prisons on treason charges.
By Oketch Bitek, Milton Olupot
and Dennis Ojwee
GULU district chairperson Nobert Mao has called for the release of the 11 suspected Uganda People’s Front (UPF) rebels held in Luzira Prisons on treason charges.
Mao recently confessed knowledge of a plot by some Acholi in the diaspora to topple President Yoweri Museveni by force of arms.
On Saturday, Mao implored the UPDF 4th Division commander, Brig. Charles Otema Awany and Gulu resident district commissioner Col. Walter Ochora to talk to the Government to have the suspects freed.
He argued that the suspects were simply lured by a group of people he termed “the misleaders.â€
The suspects, who were charged and remanded last month, included freelance journalist Patrick Otim and Alex Okot Langwen, a son to the late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Okello, who was army commander under the Tito Okello junta.
Langwen is said to be the main UPF coordinator in Uganda.
Others were Patrick Komakech and John Otim, both students from Gulu municipality.
Patrick Okello alias Ocii, Jimmy Oceng alias Billy, described as a teacher from Masindi district, Alfred Lubel Olanya, a parish chief of Alokum in Gulu and Francis Akena, a prisons warder in Gulu, were also among the suspects.
They also included a soldier, Lt. Philip Onekomon Okello alias Kikoko from Amuru district, Lt. Emmy Oryem and Michael Obol.
The group leader was identified as Dr. Henry Obonyo, who lives in the
USA and in the UK. He reportedly served as a minister in the short-lived UNLF administration in the 1980.
The list also includes Charles Lakony, who the army said authored the concept document. He is said to be using the pseudo name Don King and lives in San Diego, USA. He is a PhD holder of political science.
The 11 suspects, according to the charge sheet, committed the offence between 2006 and May 2009 in Masindi, Kampala, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Nebbi, Apac and Amuru districts.
The group allegedly mobilised logistical support for the rebellion, which included satellite phones, solar panels, global positioning system machines, black polythene sheets, gumboots, walkie talkies, laptops and firearms.
Mao pleaded for the suspects during a radio talk- show in which several top Gulu leaders discussed the threat posed by the new rebel group, also referred to as the People’s Patriotic Front.
Mao said he got to know about the rebel plan in 2008 from a student in the UK. He said the student gave him the 53-page document on his memory stick but he forgot it in the Sheraton Hotel Business Centre, where it eventually landed in the hands of the security personnel.
Mao denied being part of any subversive activities and asked the army to return his flash disk.
Mao said he did not pass on the information to the Government because he did not believe in the document. He added that he did not read the whole of it.
He argued that other people received the document, citing a journalist in Kampala and the Council of the Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Acana.
and Dennis Ojwee
GULU district chairperson Nobert Mao has called for the release of the 11 suspected Uganda People’s Front (UPF) rebels held in Luzira Prisons on treason charges.
Mao recently confessed knowledge of a plot by some Acholi in the diaspora to topple President Yoweri Museveni by force of arms.
On Saturday, Mao implored the UPDF 4th Division commander, Brig. Charles Otema Awany and Gulu resident district commissioner Col. Walter Ochora to talk to the Government to have the suspects freed.
He argued that the suspects were simply lured by a group of people he termed “the misleaders.â€
The suspects, who were charged and remanded last month, included freelance journalist Patrick Otim and Alex Okot Langwen, a son to the late Lt. Gen. Bazilio Okello, who was army commander under the Tito Okello junta.
Langwen is said to be the main UPF coordinator in Uganda.
Others were Patrick Komakech and John Otim, both students from Gulu municipality.
Patrick Okello alias Ocii, Jimmy Oceng alias Billy, described as a teacher from Masindi district, Alfred Lubel Olanya, a parish chief of Alokum in Gulu and Francis Akena, a prisons warder in Gulu, were also among the suspects.
They also included a soldier, Lt. Philip Onekomon Okello alias Kikoko from Amuru district, Lt. Emmy Oryem and Michael Obol.
The group leader was identified as Dr. Henry Obonyo, who lives in the
USA and in the UK. He reportedly served as a minister in the short-lived UNLF administration in the 1980.
The list also includes Charles Lakony, who the army said authored the concept document. He is said to be using the pseudo name Don King and lives in San Diego, USA. He is a PhD holder of political science.
The 11 suspects, according to the charge sheet, committed the offence between 2006 and May 2009 in Masindi, Kampala, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Nebbi, Apac and Amuru districts.
The group allegedly mobilised logistical support for the rebellion, which included satellite phones, solar panels, global positioning system machines, black polythene sheets, gumboots, walkie talkies, laptops and firearms.
Mao pleaded for the suspects during a radio talk- show in which several top Gulu leaders discussed the threat posed by the new rebel group, also referred to as the People’s Patriotic Front.
Mao said he got to know about the rebel plan in 2008 from a student in the UK. He said the student gave him the 53-page document on his memory stick but he forgot it in the Sheraton Hotel Business Centre, where it eventually landed in the hands of the security personnel.
Mao denied being part of any subversive activities and asked the army to return his flash disk.
Mao said he did not pass on the information to the Government because he did not believe in the document. He added that he did not read the whole of it.
He argued that other people received the document, citing a journalist in Kampala and the Council of the Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Acana.