By Frank Kamuntu
The Territorial Police in North Kyoga are actively investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Bonny Omara, 38, who was a clinical officer at Nabweyo health centre, at Amolatar district, who also doubled as a student at Jerusalem Institute of Health, Lira District, and People Power coordinator.
A statement released by deputy Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga reads thus;The body of the deceased was recovered dumped at Ocukura “A” village, Boroboro West Parish, Adekokwok Sub-County, Lira District, on the 19/01/2020 at around midday.
The preliminary investigations indicate that Omara, on the January 04, 2020, lent his motorcycle to Oyugi Geoffrey, who left Amolator, for Lira on the January 5, 2020, to sit for his exams at Canon Lawrence Institute.
On January 11, 2020, Oyugi, with his friend, rode to the Bank and parked aside.
While inside the bank, the motorcycle was identified by Okot, a mechanic, who used to repair it, and alerted its original owner, called Okwir Patrick, a 55 year old male adult from Amolatar district. He had reported the theft of his motorcycle at Amolatar CPS in May, 2017; after his house was broken into.
The matter was brought to the attention of our officers at Lira main market police post, who responded and impounded the motorcycle.
A report of being in possession of suspected stolen property was registered and both parties advised to furnish the police with documents supporting proof of their ownership.
The rider Oyugi Geoffrey was released on police bond to get in touch with the owner and return with documents of ownership.
On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Omara left Amolatar, to follow up the suspected stolen motorcycle at Lira police. He reached late and spent the night with his colleagues at the institute.
The following morning of Sunday, January 19, 2020, the victim in company of three other students, left Jerusalem Institute of Health and went shopping in town.
They proceeded to Lira Main Market Police, to follow-up on the impounded motorcycle at around 10:00am. The officers contacted Okwir Patrick, the other claimant of the motorcycle, who was in Dokolo district, but he promised to arrive at 2:00pm with his claim of ownership.
The victim was granted police bond and asked to return at 2:00Pm, so that their documents are analyzed.
The victim had indicated that he bought the motorcycle registration No. UDR 219N Bajaj Boxer from Emetu Sam on the December 12, 2017 at a cost of 600,000= Ugx and started using it, while Okwir Patrick claims the motorcycle was stolen in May, 2017 after his house in Amolatar was broken into.
Omara returned to the Institute to wait for the arrival of the other claimant. The victim eventually left the Institute, but was not seen again, till when his body was discovered dead at Ocukuru “A” village along the Lira –Soroti highway at around 12.00 noon.
Both his hands were tied to the thigh with a rope and there were bruises to the head. We also found tyre marks which indicated the scene where the body was dumped as secondary.
The scene was well documented and the body transported to Lira Referral Hospital for Post-mortem analysis. The cause of death was revealed as manual strangulation leading to the breaking of the trachea air.
At this stage the motive surrounding his alleged murder is not yet established, however, the task team, has obtained very crucial leads that are being followed up, which will help lead to the identity of the suspects and the motor vehicle that dumped the body.
In particular, we are tracing forward his movements from the school, up to Ocukuru “A” village where his body was discovered dead.
We would like to caution the media and politicians to stop politicizing the alleged murder of the victim. Their claims have no substantiality at this stage.
Our task teams are in touch with the family of the deceased, who have indicated their major interest, as knowing what exactly happened to their relative. We are doing whatever is possible within our means to establish the suspects behind the murder and their motivation.”
Omara was a staunch Bobi Wine supporter and People Power coordinator in Mango Sub-region and his death has left behind several unanswered questions, because it points to kidnap and murder.
Thi is because although police claims he was given bond at Lira Police, they do not indicate that he had been arrested in the first place and if he was, the statement does not indicate the File Case Reference Number.
What is even raising more eyebrows is that the alleged motorcycle owner Patrick Okwi never stepped at Lira police to claim for or proof ownership his motorcycle that had been allegedly stolen and sold to Omara.
Watch this space for details!
