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Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Lira Grade one magistrate court has remanded six people including three UPDF soldiers over the murder of Remijo Okello.
Lt. Col. Nelson Ayebare, Pt. Emmanuel Ogete, Corporal Basaja Balaba Fred, Morris Oruk, Jimmy Okello and Boniface Ogwangwere were remanded on various counts.
The counts are murder contrary to section 188/189 of the Penal Code Act, conspiracy to commit murder contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act. Ayebare and Basaja were charged for neglect of duty under which it is alleged that the duo did not perform their duty of conducting an operation to arrest and recover a rifle from Remijo Okello.
Ayebare was charged with obstructing the regional crime investigator from arresting suspects involved in the murder.
On July 9th, 2021, the suspects appeared before the Grade One magistrate in Lira where the charges were read to them. However, they were not allowed to enter any plea.
A prayer for a full disclosure by Sharon Nasuuna, the defense counsel representing Ayebare was declined by the magistrate. His Worship Igga Adiru, remanded the accused persons until July 26th, 2021 when they will appear for mention
On April 24th, 2021 while at Wigweng Village, Iceme sub county in Oyam District, Remijo Okello, an ex-soldier during the Milton Obote regime met his death at the hands of UPDF soldiers who had reportedly gone to recover a gun from him.
It is alleged that on the fateful day, soldiers from Lira Garrison led by Lt. Col. Nelson Ayebare joined by police officers from Oyam Central Police Station commanded by Amos Okobi stormed the residence of the deceased and shot him to death and arrested 9 other family members.
His body was reportedly bundled up in a police pickup truck and taken away to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary for postmortem. The family claims the body was never returned home for burial.
They have since petitioned the High Court in Kampala, seeking the release of the body and the nine people arrested.
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