Police in Gulu has identified Filbert Otim Baijuka, a former senior district principal officer of Amuru district, as a suspect in the murder of former Gulu deputy town clerk John Oola Omona.
Otim was picked up by Police over the weekend to help in investigations after it emerged that he had unresolved grudge with the deceased. He is being held at Gulu Central Police Station.
In 2015, Otim accused Oola of collaborating with the Inspectorate of Government in an investigation that implicated him for forging academic documents to become Gulu deputy town clerk. This came after Otim was dropped from the list of applicants for the position of Gulu Deputy Town Clerk.
Otim later dragged Oola to a tribunal of district service commission accusing him of irregularly being recruited while acting as Town Clerk of Gulu Municipality.
Last year, the Gulu District Service Commission (DSC) declared both unqualified for the position of deputy town clerk for lack of requisite academic qualifications. At the time of his death, Oola had challenged the decision in court after DSC recommended that his appointment be revoked and position is re-advertised.
According to Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Police Spokesperson, Otim is the eleventh suspect arrested over the April 23rd incident. He identifies the other suspects as Martin Akena, Denis Bongomin, Samuel Odokonyero, Aron Odong, Alice Kipwola, Thabbo Mbeki and Jennifer Akello.
Some of the suspects have been granted police bond after questioning including UPC party national Youth leader Brenda Atim Kinyera, Allan Onek and Wesley Aromo. None has formally been charged in court over the incident.
Some of the suspects picked up after Police Canine unit led detectives to their houses are being interviewed from Kampala while Filbert Otim Baijuka is still in custody in Gulu district.
Oola was killed shortly after dropping Alice Kipwola, a female friend at her home in Kanyagoga parish in Bar Dege Division, Gulu Municipality at about mid night.
The murder prompted Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura to pitch camp in Gulu town to crackdown on suspected iron bar hitmen believed to be perpetrating the wave of murders that rocked the northern Uganda town.
