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By Felix Okello Warom (email the author)
In Summary
Complaint. Kerim’s brother Naphtali Ocama, questioned why his deceased brother had not been flown out of the country for specialised medical care as government does for other ailing officials.
Relatives of fallen deputy UPDF Reserve Force commander Peter Kerim have asked the government to explain the circumstances under which he died at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala on Sunday.
The late Brigadier’s brother, Mr Naphtali Ocama, told hundreds of mourners during Kerim’s burial in Paidha Town on Wednesday that they want a proper account, arguing that Kerim was involved in a suspicious motor accident about three months before he died.
“We demand that government gives us explanation on how the accident happened, and we would like to know whether the person who knocked him has been arrested,” Mr Ocama said.
When Paidha Town Council chairman Innocent Onega translated Mr Ocama’s statement in the eulogy delivered in the native Alur language into English, the message sparked tension.
Army Spokesperson Felix Kulayigye immediately grabbed the microphone from Onega, who retorted: “Information being given should be straightforward. We cannot be suppressed on this.”
Mr Ocama also questioned why his deceased brother had not been flown out of the country for specialised medical care as government does for other ailing officials. “Was he really a Brigadier who served this country?” he asked.
Responding to the accusations, the UPDF Land Forces Commander, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, denied that Kerim, who crossed from the government army to join NRA guerillas in 1981, was neglected in his hour of need.
Share “There are always high emotions when death occurs,” he said, “but about the accident, he was scanned on every part of the body but he later developed other complications.”
He added: “It is not true that we (UPDF) took him to a mere clinic. We never deserted his family.”
Brig. Kerim’s death on Sunday amid reports he had been sidelined by the military leadership and made redundant in the deputy Army Reserve Force commander post, shocked and angered the people of West Nile where he was popular.
