Minister Onek accuses three MPs of defamation, wants Shs400m

The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Eng. Hillary Onek has sued three lawmakers seeking for Shs400 million as damages for allegedly defaming him.

The MPs are; Mr Odonga Otto (Aruu county), Mr Gilbert Olanya (Kilak south) and Mr Okin Ojara (Chua west).

The three are members of the Acholi Parliamentary Group (AGP), a social parliamentary group known constituting mainly legislators from Acholi sub-region.

In a law suit filed before the Civil Division of the High Court, the minister claims that on June 17,2020, the legislators together with a one Ms Stella Kijange appeared one of the local radio stations and uttered false statements which were detrimental and injurious to him.

The minister further states that Mr Otto accused him of not being a Ugandan and masquerading as an Acholi whereas his true family roots are in South Sudan, adding that he (Otto) allegedly knew his (Onek’s) brother who serves as a permanent secretary in Juba and sister who serves as an MP in Sudan.

The minister states that the allegations that he is not a Ugandan serves to alienate him from his people in Lamwo and also reinforces other allegations that he is an oppressive land grabber.

“That the first defendant (Otto) also accused the plaintiff (Onek) of intimidating him and his colleagues including the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) by barring them from visiting Lamwo District. He claimed precisely to bear a letter wherein the plaintiff warned them against going to Lamwo,” reads in part the court document.