PRA rebels speak: Dr. Wilbroad Okungu
Mar 25, 2003
Dr. Wilbroad Okungu wriggles in pain as he tries to narrate his ordeal. He has eight bullet wounds on his body.
Dr. Wilbroad Okungu wriggles in pain as he tries to narrate his ordeal. He has eight bullet wounds on his body.
Okungu is a known figure both in his birthplace Rubongi in Tororo District and Makerere University where he was the health minister in the controversial Steven Galogitho guild presidency. His father Oketch Wazir from Zone A Rubongi is said to be a staunch movement supporter who never tires to remind all and sundry about his doctor son.
“I was supposed to go and do a Masters in Medicine at Boston University in the US. The course was due to start on September 4, 2001. I left on August 18 for a Test of English as a foreign Language test (TOEFL) in Nairobi. I was abducted from Nairobi near Kenya International Hotel and taken to the basement of a certain building,†he says.
Okungu’s story is difficult to believe since TOEFL tests are conducted at the American Centre in Kampala. Besides he reportedly told some of his relatives that he was in Ghana.
“They took all the money I had and documents after five days I was transferred to another house by a person I later was told was Joshua Babu,†he adds. He says they drove to Rwanda via Tanzania and stayed in a safe house in Kigali.
He says he was later told that he would be taken to the DRC to provide medical services to the lendu fighters. He was promised US $ 3000 for 6 months, but ended up with eight bullets on his body on the fateful day.
“My work was to check on their health on a daily basis. The drugs were there. If they got finished they we would request for them,†says Okungu.
Okungu is not new to controversy. As a student leader at Makerere University he crashed a students’ Guild car during an evening escapade. Without any prior driving experience nor licence, overturned the saloon car while coming from a tour of Kampala night spots.
Catastrophe again befell Okungu shortly afterwards when he was expelled from the university for allegedly mobilising a violent strike to protest a decision to close Northcote Hall. With the expulsion the future of Okungu and Galogitho both of whom were then in fifth year at Medical School seemed bleak.
After more almost two years of lobbying by various people the two and other expelled student leaders were allowed back in Makerere to complete their courses. Okungu soon found himself through with the course and proceeded to Lacor Hospital Gulu for internship.
According to a fellow medic who was with him at the time Okungu did his internship meticulously and soon got a job with Gulu hospital.Those who know Okungu very well reckon he will somehow wriggle his way out of his present predicament.
Okungu is a known figure both in his birthplace Rubongi in Tororo District and Makerere University where he was the health minister in the controversial Steven Galogitho guild presidency. His father Oketch Wazir from Zone A Rubongi is said to be a staunch movement supporter who never tires to remind all and sundry about his doctor son.
“I was supposed to go and do a Masters in Medicine at Boston University in the US. The course was due to start on September 4, 2001. I left on August 18 for a Test of English as a foreign Language test (TOEFL) in Nairobi. I was abducted from Nairobi near Kenya International Hotel and taken to the basement of a certain building,†he says.
Okungu’s story is difficult to believe since TOEFL tests are conducted at the American Centre in Kampala. Besides he reportedly told some of his relatives that he was in Ghana.
“They took all the money I had and documents after five days I was transferred to another house by a person I later was told was Joshua Babu,†he adds. He says they drove to Rwanda via Tanzania and stayed in a safe house in Kigali.
He says he was later told that he would be taken to the DRC to provide medical services to the lendu fighters. He was promised US $ 3000 for 6 months, but ended up with eight bullets on his body on the fateful day.
“My work was to check on their health on a daily basis. The drugs were there. If they got finished they we would request for them,†says Okungu.
Okungu is not new to controversy. As a student leader at Makerere University he crashed a students’ Guild car during an evening escapade. Without any prior driving experience nor licence, overturned the saloon car while coming from a tour of Kampala night spots.
Catastrophe again befell Okungu shortly afterwards when he was expelled from the university for allegedly mobilising a violent strike to protest a decision to close Northcote Hall. With the expulsion the future of Okungu and Galogitho both of whom were then in fifth year at Medical School seemed bleak.
After more almost two years of lobbying by various people the two and other expelled student leaders were allowed back in Makerere to complete their courses. Okungu soon found himself through with the course and proceeded to Lacor Hospital Gulu for internship.
According to a fellow medic who was with him at the time Okungu did his internship meticulously and soon got a job with Gulu hospital.Those who know Okungu very well reckon he will somehow wriggle his way out of his present predicament.