POLITRICKS: Police say People Power coordinator was killed over stolen motorcycle, caution politicians

By Francis Otucu

The police have spoken out on the killing of Bonny Omara, 38, a clinical officer at Nabweyo health centre, Amolatar district.

The deceased, who also doubled as a student at Jerusalem Institute of Health, Lira District was killed and body discovered dumped at Ocukura “A” village, Boroboro West Parish, Adekokwak Sub-County, Lira District on January 19, 2020.

Preliminary investigation shows that the victim,  on January 4, 2020 lent his motorcycle to a one Geoffrey Oyugi, who left Amolator, for Lira on January 5, 2020 to sit for his exams at Canon Lawrence Institute and on January 11, 2020, Oyugi with his friend, rode to the Bank and parked aside.  While inside the bank, the motorcycle was identified by a one Okot, a mechanic, who used to repair it. He then alerted its original owner, Patrick Okwir, 55.

Okwir 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,” Police spokesman, Fred Enanga said in a statement Wednesday evening. He added: “On Saturday, 18/01/2020, the victim left Amolatar, to follow up the suspected stolen motorcycle at Lira. He reached late and spent the night with his colleagues at the institute. The following morning of Sunday, 19/01/2020, the victim in the 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 promised to arrive at 2pm with his claim of ownership. The victim was granted police bond and asked to return at 2pm, so that their documents are analyzed. The victim had indicated that he bought the motorcycle reg. no. UBO 219N Bajaj Boxer from Emetu Sam on the 12/12/2017 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. He 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 police however say, “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.”

The motive of his killing remains unknown.

“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,” Enanga said.

“In particular, we are tracing forward his movements from the school, up to Ocukuru “A” village where his body was discovered dead,” he added, cautioning the public, “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.”