Lira, (UG):- Uganda’s former deputy Ambassador to the United States, Mr Dickson Ogwang Okul has been arrested and put in custody at Lira Central Police Station after drawing a pistol at Lango clan leaders during a meeting on Sunday.
Ambassador Okul, who is currently serving in Khartoum as Charge d’ Affaires, was arrested at around 1:40 pm when he stormed a meeting at the Lango Cultural Centre with his two bodyguards on the afternoon.
The meeting which Okul disrupted was being chaired by Otuke RDC, Mr George Abudul, and attended by Kole Woman MP, Ms Judith Alyek as part of operations for the upcoming Ateker Festival scheduled to kick off in Soroti City on November 26, 2024.
Upon arrival, eyewitnesses say dozens of people stood up and surrounded Mr Okul asking him to step out of the meeting which was being attended by Lango clan leaders and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from the Lango Sub-region.
However, Monitor, a local daily reports that as the meeting unfolded, the initially calm-looking women and men turned chaotic as the presence of Mr Ogwang Okul, who was seated in front of them made them uncomfortable.
The elderly clan leaders started shouting, “he must go, Ogwang Okul must not be allowed to attend this meeting” and after a handful of peace-loving Lango sweet-talked him to respect the elders, Mr Ogwang Okul stood up and started walking away,” reports the local daily.
However, as he walked away from the meeting, just about 10 metres away, Okul reportedly drew a pistol and attempted to fire it.
“Just as he held the trigger of the already-cocked gun, seven armed police personnel pounced on him and wrestled him to the ground in an effort to disarm him. The officer successfully disarmed him after about five minutes of struggling,” an eyewitness, who was part of the meeting is quoted in narration of the events.
Ambassador Okul was immediately apprehended and taken to Lira Central Police Station for questioning.
Ms Lillian Eyal, the RDC of Lira, said had it not been for the intervention of the security personnel, “something stupid” could have occurred at Lango Cultural Centre on Sunday.
The incident comes weeks after the High Court in Lira blocked Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF) – a company limited by guarantee – and their agents from handing over the office of Won Nyaci (Paramount Chief of Lango) to Mr Ogwang Okul.
The court further restrained the LCF’s electoral commission from informing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi Ongom, that Ogwang is the newly-elected Won Nyaci for the purpose of causing his name to be published in the gazette.
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