Suspected ADF Rebel Arrested In Kitgum

A suspected member of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces [ADF] is locked up at Kitgum Central Police Station.

20-year-old Patrick Ocen was picked up from Akilok South Village in Okuti Parish in Orom Sub-County, some 65 kilometers from the Uganda-South Sudan border, four days ago.    

Ocen is reported to have sneaked back to his home village, almost a year and half after disappearing from the area. The Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech confirmed arrest of the suspect to URN Wednesday evening but didn’t divulge details, saying they are yet to interrogate him.  

Information obtained by URN from reliable security sources indicates that suspect assaulted and raped an elderly woman before fleeing to Kampala in March last year from where he is believed to have been recruited into the rebel outfit.

His area of Operation for the past nine months according to security sources was Kisangani in Tshopo province before crossing into the country recently through Bwera border point in Kasese District in Western Uganda.  

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity of the matter, said the suspect and his colleague recently returned to Kitgum, adding that they have been on the list of most wanted. He says Police are now trailing his colleague identified as Richard Okema who is believed to be within Palabek Sub County, which hosts thousands of South Sudan refugees.

  According to the security sources, both Ocen and Okema are believed to have hidden a gun along Bwera border point before entering the country. “Ocen in particular has two cases, one for the assault and rape and their joint participation in ADF rebel activities,” the source said.