Kole NRM Chairperson, six others released on bail

The Lira Chief Magistrates Court has released on bail the Kole district National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson, James Ebong Okalo, and six co-accused persons charged with the brutal murder of a prominent businessman in Kole.

The suspects gained their partial freedom after they clocked the mandatory remand period of 180 days without being committed to the High Court for trial.   

Okalo, 49, Vincent Ojuka Tablic, the NRM chairperson of Bala sub-county, Mary Tino alias Mary Ekonga, 52, Rose Adur alias Rose Odur Peter, 49, Jackline Akullu, 28, Nelson Odongo alias Ibale, 43, and Nelson Munu, 47, were released by Grade One Magistrate Susan Adelo on Tuesday.

The seven suspects were arrested in connection with the murder on April 17, 2019, of Jasper Okello Ongu, 45, a prominent businessman from Bala Town Council.

Ongu, a former chairman Bala sub-county business community was stoned, hit with clubs, hacked with a panga, had sticks inserted in him and later set ablaze.

The first batch of five suspects appeared in court on May 16 while the two NRM leaders appeared on June 12 and were remanded to prison. Others remained at large.

While releasing the suspects, the Adelo bonded the seven sureties at sh5m each not cash and ordered the accused to report back to court on April 21, 2020.

The suspects were received by a jubilant crowd at Bala Town Council and were immediately taken to Bala Catholic Church for thanksgiving prayers.

Okalo and Ojuka denied participating in the brutal murder of Okello.

Victim's relatives react

Okello's relatives said they are aware that there are a number of people in Kole who are working hard to see that Okello does not get justice.

Dorcus Apili a sister to the deceased said some politicians in Kole have politicised the matter to meet their own selfish interests.

Apili said they were told by the Resident Senior State Attorney that the Police file was requested in Kampala and not returned.

"Why then did the magistrate release the suspects when the Police file is not there? We are suspicious," she said.

Jenifer Awor one of Okello's widows said the family has been receiving threats and intimidation from people who are sympathetic to the accused persons.

"They are now taunting us," she said.

What Police says

The Regional Police Commander, Peter Nkulega, said the assembled evidence is sufficient enough to sustain a murder charge against the accused persons.

He said there is ample evidence describing the participation of each of the accused persons and others still at large in Okello's murder.

"Assembled evidence indicates that Mary Tino incited the mob to kill the deceased and together with Rose Adur and Jackline Akullu, they collected grass and burnt the deceased. Further evidence shows that they assaulted a Police officer who tried to rescue the deceased," Nkulega told New Vision.

"One Saddam Onyinge who is on the run is alleged to have cut the deceased with a panga and jumped on his chest when he was lying down. One Nelson Odongo pushed a stick into the deceased's anal region, according to assembled evidence."

"Ojuka Tablic and James Ebong Okalo bought petrol that was used to burn the deceased. Margaret Awor who is on the run set the fire," Nkulega said pledging that all the suspects in the murder would be arrested and added to the charge sheet.

What the law says

In the Constitution, Article 23 (6), where a person is arrested in respect of a criminal offence- (c) in the case of an offence triable only by the High Court the person shall be released on bail on such conditions as the Court considers reasonable if the person has been remanded in custody for one hundred and eighty days before the case is committed to the High Court.