Thousands mourn Humanitarian Health worker

 

 

KOLE - Thousands of people converged at Apii in Kole district to pay tribute to a humanitarian health worker on Friday. 

 

Bob Martin Odongo passed away last Sunday, May 24 under unclear circumstances.

 

The 31 year old nurse and a younger brother to Alebtong RDC Andrew Awany was working with Save the Children at Omugo Refugee Settlement in Maracha district.

 

He was on Sunday morning found unconscious at the road side, opposite Apii Police Post in Kole district, a short distance away from his home.

 

His relatives were notified and took him to Lira Medical Centre where he passed on.

 

Jenifer Awor, the deceased's elder sister said he came home from a trip abroad three days before and on the fateful day, went to watch football in Lira town and it was while traveling back home on his motorcycle that he was possibly assaulted.

 

Awor said they strongly believe he was waylaid and beaten by unknown people because the Bajaj motorcycle he was moving on had no damage.

 

However, the Regional Police Commander (RPC) John Peter Ematu could not rule out the possibility that Odongo was murdered. He said they do not know how he died but investigation is going on. 

 

The RPC blamed the public for concealing information from the police. He said by concealing incriminating information, the wrong people will continue to be recycled around.

Mourners at Odongo's burrial. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

 

Save the Children Regional Manager, Western Region Samuel Mukirane, who represented the organisation, said the death of Martin Odongo is a big loss to them as an organisation.

 

Odongo worked in South Sudan, Somalia, and West Africa during the Ebola crisis and many other areas of the world.

 

Mukirane said it's painful to lose such a skilled, dedicated committed young man who had been very loving and a mentor and counselor to the staffs and refugees.  

 

Kole is on the spotlight for a number of unresolved murders and serious crimes. In some cases, the police is accused of incompetent and collusion with criminals.

 

Ceaser Onyanga, a businessman in Lira was in November last year found dead in a similar manner in the same area and his motorcycle besides him.

 

But, ever since his death, the matter has been swept under the carpet.

 

On February 15, 2017 at around 2pm, the body of Nixon Okullo, 43, a nephew to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, David Obong Oleke, a manager of coca cola depot at Kamdini, Oyam district was found dumped in Kole town council at Wigweng cell, Eastern Ward B.

 

He was robbed of unspecified amount of money that he was taking to the bank.

 

James Okoo, 36, was in 2014 robbed of his motorcycle and Kole police recovered it and kept it as exhibit but later auctioned it to the DPC Ahamed Musakana who again sold it to another police officer Eunice Atala before the case is concluded.

 

Okoo has complained to PSU in vain and has failed to get his motorcycle back.