CITY LAWYER SURRENDERS IN EAST CONGO

Apr 11, 2003

A KAMPALA lawyer is among four People’s Redemption Army rebel suspects who have surrendered to the UPDF in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

BY FELIX OSIKE IN BUNIA

A KAMPALA lawyer is among four People’s Redemption Army rebel suspects who have surrendered to the UPDF in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Chief of Military Intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, and security personnel in Bunia in Eastern DRC, identified the lawyer as Nathan Okiring, who had chambers on Blacklines House.

“I was very surprised to see him. I was with him at the Law Development Centre,” Mayombo said yesterday.

Okiring is being detained by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. He reportedly surrendered to the UPDF last week at Bariere, about 26km from Bunia. Bariere is at the junction which connects Bunia and Munbgwallo.

The four surrendered after the UPDF and the Lendu militia attacked PRA camps in Bule and Fataki towns in Ituri province last month.
They were flown to Kampala last week. The decision on whether or not to prosecute them has not yet been taken. Mayombo said Okiring had asked for pardon.

He said Okiring told the CMI that he was promised US$1,000 (sh1.9m) per month for legal services for the PRA and was given a deposit of US$500 (sh950,000) before he proceeded to Rwanda from where he was flown to the Ituri region.

Okiring joins 24 other suspected PRA rebels captured in Ituri last month and detained at the military Police barracks at Makindye, Kampala.

The suspects include Dr. Wilbrod Okungu, formerly working at Gulu Hospital and Dr. Julius Muhumuza, formerly with Mildmay on Entebbe Road. Dr. Okungu has eight bullet wounds.

Maj. Tom Mugizi, a former UPDF intelligence officer, and Capt. Muhammed Kiwanuka, also surrendered to the UPDF last month in Ituri.

The army says PRA was formed by renegade UPDF officers Cols. Samson Mande and Anthony Kyakabale who are exiled in Rwanda.

Talking to journalists in Arua last month, the group claimed they went to the DRC through Kigali where they allegedly met Mande and Kyakabale.

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