By Our Reporters
Soroti University’s interdicted Academic Registrar Mr. James Okello, in whose favor the DPP recently dropped criminal charges in the Soroti Magistrates Court, might after all be too early to celebrate his freedom if DPP Mike Chibita’s latest revelations is anything to go by. In a telephone interview, Chibita has this morning told this news website that “it’s possible we can revisit the matter and charge him afresh if new facts emerge to the contrary.” We had rung Chibita to seek his explanation regarding what it exactly means for the prosecution case to be halted as indicated in the Directorate’s March letter to court. Okello and another were being prosecuted under criminal file number CRB/058/2018 arising from the theft of a University Bull that had been bought to be slaughtered on the day the President was expected to visit Soroti University. When the big man postponed his visit, it was decided to keep the bull on the University farm until the day he comes.
However, in March this year butchers from Soroti town were caught red handed taking away the bull and when police intercepted them, they claimed Mr. James Okello had sold it to them. Initially Okello was remanded in the Soroti prison whereafter he was released on bail but remained interdicted from office by the University Council on grounds that staying in office would enable him interfere with investigations. In dropping charges against Okello, the DPP depended on information provided by VC Prof Robert Ikoja and DVC Too-Okema to the effect that Okello had actually acted on orders of the top management in selling the bull. This narrative has since been disputed with the duo being challenged by fellow management colleagues to produce a minute that shows that the top University management indeed ever met and authorized the sale of what has since come to be casually known as the President’s Bull.
Some members of top management maintain that Mr. Okello criminally sold the bull on his own and it’s this dispute that prompted Chibita to tell this news website this morning that, on corroboration and verification, such new facts could prompt the DPP to restore the prosecution case against Okello and other he is co-accused with. Chibita said he needed time to establish if anyone had formally furnished his Directorate with these new facts regarding Mr. James Okello’s fate. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
