By Matthew Okello
TORORO
Police in Tororo district have launched an investigation in the matter where the West Budama South Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Otaala allegedly raided Iyolwa police post and forced an assault suspect who was in legal detention out on Sunday, 22nd October 2023.
After the commissioning of the construction of Iyolwa-Nfungwe road on Friday last week, it’s reported that a one Bernard Owere attacked and assaulted the Iyolwa district councilor George Osinde
Owere who held Osinde by the neck pinned him on opposing MP Otaala and promoting Laban who hails from Ojilai Sub County.
George Osinde, the district councilor then rushed and reported a case of assault against Owere at Iyolwa police post on 20th October 2023
On Sunday, Osinde found Owere and held him hostage. He later called police to pick him up so that he answers assault charges. Police responded immediately and arrested Owere.
However, minutes after police arrested Owere, the MP Otaala in the company of the Iyolwa town council district councilor, Martin Odongo reportedly stormed the police and found the Officer in charge of the police post, Francis Musamali standing outside with the Iyolwa town council LCIII chairperson. He immediately asked him to unconditionally release the suspect who happens to be his supporter.
The statement at the Tororo central police station written by the OC Iyolwa reveals that the MP in the forceful agitation for the release of his supporter threatened to mobilize his supporters to storm the police station and torch it down.
When the OC tried to plead with the MP to calm down and sort out the issue honorably, he instead threatened to deal with them adding that they don’t know who Otaala is and what he can do.
According to the information seen by this website, the MP wanted Owere to be released unconditionally.
The increased violence by the MP forced the OC to open the cells and allowed the MP to go with his supporter wondering on how a person of a respected caliber would behave the way the MP acted.
He drove him to the central police and filed a counter case of assault arguing that the district councilor while holding Owere hostage assaulted him.
The Tororo district police commander says he has received a file in line with the matter and he is going to initiate instigations into the assault cases.
When contacted on phone, the West Budama South MP Emmanuel Otaala said that whatever is being said about him is false and he only participated in the smooth release of the suspect.
