Family of the late Kenneth Akena Watmon, the November 2016 Lugogo shooting victim have written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate Edith Byaniyima over her alleged media 'sectarian' accusations on the people of Acholi.
Byanyima, an aunt to Mathew Kanyamunyu, the prime suspect in Akena shooting allegedly uttered a 'sectarian' proclamation which appeared on social media and in online publication, Chimp Reports, that Acholi soldiers killed Kanyamunyu's father.
Through their lawyer Ojok and Company Advocates, Akena's family wants IGP Kale Kayuhura to investigate Edith Byanyima, a sister to Winnie Byanyima, the Director of Oxfam International, for the utterance.
'We act for and on behalf of the family of the late Akena with instructions to address you as here below. Our attention has been drawn to social media publication of ChimpReports attributed to Edith Byanyima, which you may be aware of, entitled 'Byanyima; Acholi soldiers killed Kanyamunyu's father; Acholi Policemen haunting Bahima', reads the letter addressed to Kayihura.
The family argues that they do not in any way wish to curtail Edith Byanyima's God-given right of freedom of speech and expression but vehemently object and oppose her abuse of that right which she expressed in an ignorant and sectarian manner.
In the letter, Akena's family and the lawyers want particularly the statement, "What guarantee is there the buses will return to Acholi," investigated adding that they can only speculate about her intentions.
The family maintains that, "Criminal liability is personal and we would not wish the murder of Mr. Akena be generalised as she is doing".
"Our instructions are to request your office to direct the appropriate office to investigate such sectarian utterance and the perpetrators be dealt with as your office or the DPP may deem in," further reads the letter dated January 16, 2017 which police and DPP both acknowledged receipt.
Akena, 32, a community development officer was shot at on Saturday November 12th 2016 at or near Forest Mall, Lugogo in Kampala after his car reportedly scratched Mathew Kanyamunnyu's.
Mathew and his fiancée Cynthia Munwangari and brother Joseph Kanyamunyu have since been remanded to Luzira Prisons on murder charges.
The case has however taken on tribal dimensions after both Edith and Winnie Byanyima appeared in court to stand surety for the suspects who had applied for bail. Politicians from Northern Uganda, including Aruu South MP Odonga Otto and his Kitgum Municipality counterpart, Beatrice Anywar, accused the Byanyimas of betraying Acholi people. Otto argued that it was betrayal for Byanyima, wife to former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, to want to bail out Kanyamunyu yet FDC party and Besigye enjoy huge political support in Acholi.
It is in this context that Edith Byanyima made the comments about Kanyamunyu's parents and Acholi soldiers.
