UGANDA: 2005 MUSEVENI’S PEACE ENVOY MURDER IN COLD BLOOD, FAMILY WOOLS IN ABJECT POVERTY DEMAND UGX B COMPENSATION.

The family of Okech Opobo Kurru were in shock as tears flow-down their cheeks as they welcome Members Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC), journalists at their makeshift rented grass thatch hurts in Obiya east village. Pece-Laroo Division Gulu City.

Okech Kuru, former inner Commander of Major Kakooza Mutale the deep state operative, the former Lord’s Resistance Army Commander and a blue boy Captain cum President Museveni LRA envoy was killed in cold blood in Koyo Lalogi Sub County in 2005. As he was sent to deliver “Olive Branch letter of peace talks to Joseph Kony, LRA warlord, never return back alive to date for 21 years ago.

GULU CITY-WED. MAY 28, 2025.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol.

It was at 11.30 AM, East African time. A group of women in their late 50s, boys and girls break up in shock weaving episodes of mourning their beloved husband, father and grand Papa Okech Kurru remembering his demise at 21 years old.

“We the family of Okech Kuru, demand UGX 3 billion from President Museveni who sent our husband as peace mediator, he was killed, we want the government to accord him a state burial. Those who were killed by LRA, their bodies were discovered, but those who have been killed by UPDF, their bodies have not been found, we smell the rat of the death of Okech Kuru.” Children and widows decried.

A moment later, Monica Alanyo Okech, the eldest daughter of the late Okech Kurru uttered a word in Luo, “Man ka onongo ki kelo center me apoka kany. Kono Jo ma peke ni kono dano weng tye kany. Literally, those who are absent if the government was giving us money, all of them would have been present, when she was informed that some family members were not present.

Press briefing was halted for 10 minutes to allow normality and temper to settle among the grieving family, little while Sabina Okech began to identify their siblings one by one starting with the eldest son to the young including Okech Kuru’s surviving widows present.

Komakech Charles introduced him as head of the family, followed by Opiyo Charles, Alanyo Monica Okech, Ajok Beatrice Okech, Ojok Erick Okech, later introducing her mother as Mary Laboto Okech.  Others are Winnifred Okech, Amony Concy Okech, Adoch Jacquiline Okech, and many others.

Sabina Okech’s discourse narrative stressed that her father Captain Okech Kuru was Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF), a known LRA contact person within the UPDF circle.

“In 2003 the purported failed peace talks in Koyo Lalogi, Lapul village, in Pader District under the outfit of the then Northern Uganda Pacification state minister Mrs.   Betty Bigombe, aka Oyella Atuko which was slated in Lapul village, Koyo Lalogi Sub County Pader District. Captain Okech Kuru was sent by President Museveni to deliver a letter indicating peace talks. But he never came back alive. Sabina Okech informed the press briefing.

We heard about his death on Radio MEGA 103 FM, the following day. When we begin to follow the course of his death, and what killed him, how he was killed and from where. Nobody from Gulu UPDF4th Division, the attempt was futile. I went to UPDF Bombo headquarters, Monica Alanyo narrated.

All the immenseness attempts to contact relevant authorities and parliament Uganda to seek for more information from the MP for Aswa County Ronald Reagan Okumu and other Acholi Parliamentary Groups Hon. Livingstone Okello Okello who was the then Chairman APG was never accorded. But I failed to get any clue whosoever might have caused death to my father Okech Kuru.” Monica Okech Okech observed.

In year 2004, teams from the State house came and took our photograph including the four widows of the late Okech Opobo Kuru and 26 children, we gave the name of two people called Martin Oryem Abangole and Moses Akeni, Oryem Abalongle son of Okech Kuru’s elder sister and one clan person. The team from the state house called the two people to follow his salary, and compensation.

When Martin Oryem Abangole and Moses Akeni  went to the state house  following the gratuity, they came back and never had we as the family of the late Okech Kuru heard any feedback from them, what we have witnessed from them, the two people started businesses, by opening shops and building estate, story building in Gulu town by then.

“There is no way for us to follow the compensation of our father, as you see now, by the time of his death in 2003, I was in senior two secondary school, none of 26 Okech Kuru children reached University study, we all dropped out of school, some dropped out from primary level. Even the grass thatch hurts you see here, we are renting.”

Mrs. Labotto Okech, in a painful episode, recalled the hay day when her late husband Captain Okech Kuru was a beacon of hope to UPDF, Henry and Milk was flowing. We are the four wives of Okech Kuru. We are the one who raised Martin Oryem Abangole, because he was born out of wedlock. We have zero on him and we chose him as the son to Okech Kuru, he never had to follow the property and assets left behind. Since the late Okech Kuru never left a will.

“When we took our petition to the office of Gulu District Residence Commissioner, before RDC Jane Okile, Oryem Abangole bribed his way, Gulu RDC chased the four widows away from her office. Latin ni ocwalo wa malit, literally, the boy did badly to us by conning those who raised him.” Mrs. Laboto Okech stressed and lamented.

When we confronted him as family, he said he got only money once, the groups of UPDF came and took us to Hotel Diplomat in Gulu Town those years 2004. Since my husband was killed as Lamp, we want the government to bring for us his body, and to accord him a decent burial.

“We want the government to buy land and build for four widows of Okech Kuru permanent residence houses. Let them not get the money from the middle men who conned the money in the name of Okech Kuru and pay school fees for children.” Laboto Okech stressed.

The worst thing, Okech Kuru children now howling in drug substance, smoking Bangi as girls turn to sexual immorality, if my husband would be alive, he would have been Lt. General the likes of the late Lt. Gen. Paul Lukech and Gen. Charles Otema Awany

Thomas Labeja, one of the UPDF collaborators with Okech Kuru, said this during a press briefing at the family of Okech Kuru, on March 23, 2003. In the morning, he saw Okech Kuru in the company of Rwot Oywak, moving together in Koyo Lalogi Sub County. But he did not know that Okech Kuru was going to meet Joseph Kony.

“If I had known that Okech Kuru was going to meet Joseph Kony, LRA chief in the bush, I would have stopped him because Okech Kuru was with Joseph Kony as LRA fighter. And when he surrendered to the UPDF army he turned his gun on the LRA. When Gen. Salim Saleh asked me after the death of Okech Kuru, I told him that it was wrong to send Okech Kuru to meet with Joseph Kony. Because the LRA was looking for him.

I also doubt if Okech Kuru was killed by LRA, because the people who have been killed by LRA rebels and their remains have been discovered afterward.

When the Black Star News contacted Oryem Abangole, he denied receiving Okech Kuru funds. Expressed his feeling that he could talk to the media before Gulu Residence Commissioner.

When further pressed to establish to use funds meant for Okech Kuru widows and Orphans, if the estate he owns are co-chaired by four surviving widows and 26 Okech Kuru’s children.  Or if the two businesses shops along Bus Park Road I Gulu City are in the name of Okech Kuru’s family. Neither a farm in Awach Paibona is co-chaired.

“I cannot talk to the media because of what was published in social media platforms, I can only talk to the media before the RCC.” Oryem Abangole.” Warned.

Captain David Kamiya, UPDF4th Division when contacted about the Okech Opobo Kuru state house compensation referred the Black Star News to Gulu UPDF 4^th Division record pay master to ascertain details if the government had paid the late Okech Opobo Kuru.

Richard Odong, pensioner in-charge of UPDF veteran based in the office of UPDF4th Division spokesperson confirmed that Sgt. Okech Opobo Kuru was compensated by the state house in 2004.  However, his gratuity and pension is being processed by UPDF Bombo.

“Look here on our computer, RAS139955 Sgt. Okech Opobo Kuru his gratuity is being processed, his daughter one called Monica Alanya was here following his payment. I took him to Gulu UPDF 4^th Division Commander where he met him concerning Sgt Okech Opobo Kuru payment, if had told Gulu UPDF 4^th Division Commander he wanted to meet General. Salim Saleh. She would have been taken to meet him about the 2004 compensation state house paid to Oryem Abangole.” Record officer minding pension desk stressed.