Ivan Okuda, a prominent lawyer and former investigative journalist, alleges he narrowly survived assassination plots ordered by Anita Among. Okuda claims the threats followed a 2017 Daily Monitor exposé linking Among to a 2016 murder and torture ring in the Teso region, according to statements posted by Okuda on X.
Why did Ivan Okuda claim he was targeted?
Okuda attributes the threats to his work as an investigative reporter for the Daily Monitor. In 2017, he authored a front-page story titled “Hitmen invade Teso, kill and torture with impunity,” which reported on the 2016 assault of a 74-year-old woman. According to the report, security forces arrested four men who confessed to being hitmen hired by Anita Among, who was then a Member of Parliament.
Okuda stated on X that Among was “vicious at the height of her ‘power’” and that he “narrowly survived her killer hand” because of the story. While he did not disclose the specific methods used in the alleged plots, he characterized the experience as a direct fallout of his reporting on the Teso violence.
Who intervened to protect Okuda?
Okuda identifies Hon. Okuda wrote that Ogwang intervened behind the scenes to persuade Among to stop the pursuit. "I’m eternally grateful to my brother Hon. Peter Ogwang who, without me asking, prevailed over her," Okuda stated, adding, "Maybe I’d be dead."
What was the 2016 Teso incident?
The conflict stems from a brutal attack in the Teso region in 2016. According to the Daily Monitor report, investigators found that one of the attackers had forced a wooden pestle into the private parts of an elderly victim. The suspects allegedly claimed they were acting on the orders of Anita Among. In response to the reporting, Among denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Daily Monitor, though that legal action was withdrawn years later.
What is the current status of Anita Among?
The allegations surface as Anita Among faces a significant decline in political influence. Once a central power broker in Kampala, Among stepped down from the Speaker’s chair before the start of the new parliamentary term. Her departure followed a series of events including corruption allegations, a raid on her residence in Kampala, and pressure from State House. She is currently involved in ongoing anti-corruption court proceedings.
How has the public and legal community responded?
The disclosure has prompted calls from human rights defenders and citizens on social media for a formal commission of inquiry. Critics are demanding accountability for the extra-judicial violence and political thuggery allegedly linked to Among’s network in Teso. As of the latest reports, Hon. Peter Ogwang has not publicly commented on his alleged role in protecting Okuda, and representatives for Anita Among have not responded to inquiries from Watchdog Uganda.
Summary of Key Events
- 2016: Alleged hitmen attack a 74-year-old woman in Teso; suspects claim they were hired by Anita Among.
- 2017: Ivan Okuda publishes the exposé in the Daily Monitor; Among files a defamation suit.
- Intervention: Hon. Peter Ogwang allegedly intervenes to protect Okuda from assassination plots.
- Present: Anita Among exits the Speaker’s office amid corruption charges; Okuda goes public with his survival story.
Okuda currently serves as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and is a regional representative for Africa with the London Court of International Arbitration.