By Andrew Irumba
Gulu: The Gulu district Council Speaker is to be subjected to DNA test as part of investigations in a defilement case he is battling.
It is alleged that Okwonga, defiled his 14-year-old niece and ballooned her, while the girls was staying at his home in Laroo Division, Gulu Municipality, in March this year. On learning that her daughter had been impregnated by Okwonga, the Minor’s mother filed a case of aggravated defilement on May 30, 2019, at Gulu Central Police Station, prompting cops to arrest him.
It has emerged that Okwonga will be subjected to a DNA test to ascertain the paternity of the unborn minor’s child. It is alleged that Okwonga defiled his niece and impregnated her when she was staying at his home in Laroo Division, Gulu Municipality, in March this year. The minor’s mother later filed a case of aggravated defilement on May 30, 2019, at Gulu Central Police Station, although Okwonga vehemently refuted the allegations.
Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Regional Police Spokesperson said that “Tests conducted after the report proved that the minor is two months’ pregnant.” He added that “As part of the investigation, the accused speaker has already been subjected to mental, health and age tests. He also recorded a statement of defence before he was granted police bond.” However, Okema noted that the Gulu Resident State Attorney (RSA), Patrick Omiya, has advised that a DNA test be conducted because the available evidence is still not enough to incriminate Okwonga. The medical exercise requires gene samples from the alleged father of the child. He disclosed that both Okwonga and the minor will be subjected to DNA and prenatal tests respectively, which are key in ascertaining the real father of the unborn child. The victim’s other uncle identified as Christopher Okello revealed that Okwonga took advantage of the girl at the time she was living with her mother under his care, because her father died in 2015 and the mother had no means of fending for her.
