16 Apaa land riot suspects released
Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya with Amuru Woman MP Lucy Akello jubilate after Olanya was given court bail in Amuru District recently. PHOTO BY JOHN OKOT PHOTO
What you need to know:
Free. Ten juveniles among those freed.
Amuru. Amuru Grade One Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to 16 out of 34 suspects who were remanded to Gulu Central Prison over protesting against the demarcation of Apaa land in Pabbo Sub-county, Amuru District last month.
But Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya is set to re-appear before Gulu Magistrate’s Court today (Monday) for hearing of his case in which he is charged with inciting and threatening violence.
The MP was on September 7 arrested by police at Parabongo village, Lamogi Sub-county, as he headed to Pabbo Trading Centre where residents were protesting erection of mark stones on the 40sqkm of Apaa land.
The magistrate, Mr Edward Okot, first granted bail to 10 of the suspects last Thursday after their sureties paid Shs200,000 for each of them.
The magistrate also unconditionally released six juveniles on non-cash bail according to section 91 of the Children’s Act. Court, however, denied bail to two other suspects; Mr Simon Oryem and Mr Tokwiny Ocaba, on grounds that they were the ringleaders of the demonstration and their release could jeopardise investigations.
They were sent back on remand to Gulu Central Prison.
