OMORO, UGANDA: The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate for Omoro County by-election Mr. Dick Denis Owani is safe and free, Police in Aswa Region has confirmed.
Owani was allegedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Wednesday evening at around 8:30 pm ahead of Thursday’s nomination of candidates for the upcoming by-election.
Through their official Twitter account, FDC on Thursday morning said their candidate Mr. Owani had allegedly been abducted by occupants of a certain vehicle that were trailing him on his way from Radio Rupiny after a political talk show.
However, in a turn of events, The Aswa Region Police Commander, Ms. Damalie Nachucha said the police was able to speak to Mr Owani on Wednesday morning and confirmed that he has been set free and he is therefore safe from any harm.
“What I am sure of is that for now, he is safe, we have reached out to him personally, we believe any time from now, he will be at Electoral Commission district offices for nomination, and we shall question him,” Nachucha said.
She however added that police has started investigating the matter to ascertain the reality behind the kidnap claims. “We are following up the matter and if we find out that it was true, we shall then bring those involved to book,” she said.
Mr Owani confirmed to DailyExpress correspondent in Omoro that he had been set free earlier on and that he was on his way to Omoro District Headquarters for his nomination.
“Yes, I have been freed by the kidnappers, and now headed to the district electoral commission office for the nomination,” he said via a phone call.
Mr. Dick Owani, Mr Terrence Odonga (Independent), National Unity Platform’s Simon Toolit Akecha, and Mr Jimmy Walter Onen (Independent) are among the four candidates booked for Thursday’s nomination according to Mr Moses Kagona, the Omoro District Electoral Commission Returning Officer.
“Four candidates booked today to be nominated, so we are expecting more than three candidates to come, out of these people, today we have nominated one person, Onen Jimmy Walter who is running as Independent,” Kagona said.
The Omoro County seat fell vacant following the untimely death of former MP and Speaker of Parliament, the Late Jacob Oulanyah who succumbed to cancerous illness on March 20th this year.
The electoral commission set May 26th as the date for the elections to fill the vacant seat.
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