Okello alias Rouks, a resident of Adekokwok Sub-County, Erute South Constituency in Lira District, was kidnapped on July 13, 2011 under unclear circumstances after holding a number of meetings with the District Internal Security Officer, Mr Stephen Eriaku, and another policeman of Lira Central Police Station.
He was charged with treason on August 1, last year.

Okello was committed to High Court for trial on January 6 after the state indicated that investigations into his case were complete.

Ms Eleanor Khainza, the Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate, committed Okello for trial after spending six months on remand.

Okello through his lawyers said he suffers from chest pain, difficulty in breathing, high blood pressure, ulcers, and bronchial asthma and that his health condition has deteriorated since his detention and cannot access proper medical care while in prison.

Reports indicate that Okello was detained incommunicado for more than two weeks in different places, including the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence formerly at Kitante and at the now defunct Rapid Response Unit in Kireka.

He was produced before court upon an order resulting from an application by Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda before High Court in Lira. He is the second journalist from northern Uganda to be charged with treason after Mega FM’s Otim Patrick was arrested in a similar way and is still in Luzira Maximum Security Prison pending trial.

January 11, 2012 by Ephraim Kasozi

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Source: www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1303554/-/b22iuiz/-/index.html (Accessed: 15.01.2012)