Former MP Odonga Otto wanted over torture, robbery

Aswa River region police have commenced a manhunt for former Aruu County MP, now self-claimed environmental activist Samuel Odonga Otto over allegations of aggravated torture and robbery.

Otto and a group of environmental vigilantes are accused of beating and severely injuring three businessmen dealing in charcoal in Atanga sub-county, in Pader district on Sunday afternoon. They were reportedly armed with sticks and machetes. Police identified victims of the purported attack as Charles Ssemanda, Yusuf Wagwana, and Takafa Erisata who sustained severe body injuries.

According to police, the suspects still at large also robbed Shs 1.1 million from one of the victims identified as Ssemanda before vandalizing a Fuso Truck reg no. UBA 600B during the attack. Pader district police commander Abraham Tukundane told URN that the victims reported a case of assault and robbery at Atanga police station shortly after the incident. Tukundane notes that the victims were assaulted by the perpetrators who later posted the video online.

“There are videos circulating on social media that show the suspects assaulting their victims. They were badly beaten and were rushed for medical treatment in Pader,” says Tukundane.

He says police have since retrieved the vehicle which was badly damaged by the suspects and taken it for safe custody at Atanga police station pending investigation into the torture and robbery allegations. According to police, the suspects are alleged to have stolen two motor vehicle batteries, a motor vehicle radio, a woofer, a motor vehicle key, and a tarpaulin from the Fuso truck before damaging its windscreen, fuel tank and tires.

Tukundane notes that police are now hunting for Otto and his accomplices so that they face the allegations brought against them in court. The suspects are also separately accused of earlier attacking another victim, Charles Olara Okello who was found buying firewood along Lapul- Atanga road in Atanga sub-county.

Otto received a warning early last month from the police after embarking on a campaign against the illegal charcoal trade in Acholi sub-region following a ban on the commercial production, and trade of charcoal by the Environment ministry.

Together with his vigilantes under Ribbe Pi Paco (RPP), an environmental youth advocacy and activism group, the former legislator combed charcoal hotspots in Acholi where they destroyed charcoal camps, and logs and intercepted charcoal trucks. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga however in a statement Wednesday said the suspects’ level of physical interaction is not only reckless and dangerous but can lead to hate crimes in society.

“We wish to remind the public that torture, through the use of corporal punishment or any other form of physical assault, is punishable by law. We, therefore, urge the former lawmaker to avoid taking the law in his hands and misleading other members of the public, into acts of lawlessness and impunity,” the statement reads.

In a Tweet on Wednesday on his Twitter account, Otto denied the allegations arguing that he has been out of Acholi sub-region for the past two weeks.

“Let the records be straight the last two weeks and on the days of the alleged offences I have been in Kampala. We will lawfully win the fight for our environment,” he tweeted. Otto says he will appear voluntarily before the police.

The Environment ministry early this year banned district officials in Acholi sub-region from issuing documents that facilitate commercial production, and trade in charcoal in a move aimed at conserving the environment.

Local leaders in the region however accused the police and environmental enforcement authorities of frustrating the ban prompting campaigns to intercept charcoal trucks in transit.

Last month, the police in Gulu city arrested Gilbert Olanya, Kilak South legislator in Amuru district over allegations of inciting locals to intercept and loot charcoal from a truck plying through Gulu city from Amuru district.