Last Updated on: 30th June 2023, 01:06 pm
Oyam, June 29, 2023: Oceng Simon Peter who works with Shine FM in Oyam town has run to the police to seek justice.
Oceng was allegedly assaulted on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, by at least two NRM supporters. One is Olong Stalon, a businessman in Oyam town.
Another alleged person is Philips Ogile Jakayo, the Abok sub-county LC3 chairman. Ogile is also the Oyam district NRM publicity secretary.
It’s alleged that on June 27, the accused assaulted Oceng for playing on air a campaign song of the UPC candidate in the Oyam North MP by-election, Dr Apio Eunice Otuko.
Parts of a note widely shared also say the assault was made after Okello Samuel Engola, the NRM candidate had completed his radio talk show at the same station.
However, in an interview with TND News on Thursday, Oceng said the assault was made shortly after 8:10 pm.
“I entered the studio at 7:55 pm and started the show and informed the audience that we are expecting a team from the NRM party for a talk show but there seems to be a delay in their arrival.
“At 8:10 pm I started playing the campaign song of Dr Apio Eunice Otuko and when the song was ending, I saw Ogile Jakayo and Olong Stalon enter the studio. Ogile shouted at me ‘Why are you playing that song’?
“Olong later punched me and hit my ears… As I talk now I can’t hear well, I have to put calls on a loudspeaker and I also have a problem with my eyes,” Oceng added.
He said that his bosses had informed him that a team from NRM would, because of delays start their show at 8:00 pm than had initially been planned.
Ogile denies the allegation and said, Thursday, “Oceng is being used by UPC and he’s their reporter.
“We had our program at the station and we feel as NRM, our song should have been played. He (Oceng) provoked our members because he even closed the studio line and we could not call in.
“You know, this is a by-election and journalists need to be cautioned and you know some are so political.
“Some human rights organisations use journalists to provoke the government. This is a peaceful government,” Ogile added.
In a tweet on Thursday, Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) said, “We call upon police at Oyam CPS to apprehend the culprit and have him account for his actions.”
By press time we could not get comments from Police in Oyam or talk to the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema about their investigation.
This publication understands that a case of assault has been opened against Olong at Oyam CPS vide 21/28/06/2023.