The family of Ivan Oloya, a Seeta High School teacher who was brutally murdered earlier this year is accusing the justice system of dragging its feet in handling the case.
Oloya's lifeless body was in March discovered in Bajjo Cell, Goma Division in Mukono Municipality.
Several suspects were later arrested in connection with the murder and have since been arraigned in court.
However, Oloya's parents, Alfred Okwera and Margret Nyeko, say they have grown increasingly frustrated and suspicious of possible foul play behind the slow progress of court proceedings.
The couple traveled over 500 kilometers from Kitgum District to Mukono District, only to be informed at the Mukono Chief Magistrate’s Court that their son’s case file was not available and the matter would not be mentioned.
"This is my second time coming here, and still, nothing has moved. The case file is nowhere to be found. We are worried there may be an invisible hand delaying justice," said Okwera.
Adding his voice, Joseph Stephen Onguti, the grandfather of the deceased, called on the police and judiciary to expedite investigations and warned that continued delays are not only costly but emotionally draining.
"We have spent a lot of money and time coming here. We need closure. We ask the school director to meet us and resolve this issue amicably," Onguti stated.
The family also expressed disappointment with the administration of Seeta High School, accusing them of ignoring the court proceedings yet they are equally responsible for the death of Oloya.
Nyeko specifically criticized Dr. Chrysostom Muyingo, the Director of Seeta High Schools and a Minister of State for Higher Education, for allegedly avoiding any engagement with the family.
“Since my son died, Dr. Muyingo has never called or spoken to us, not even once,” she said.
In an emotional appeal, Okwera invoked Acholi traditional justice and called upon the suspects and any responsible parties to participate in traditional cleansing rituals.
“I can give you the case of Kanyamunyu and Akena when Kanyamunyu denied killing Akena, we left him, but the Acholi elders handled the matter. Eventually, he came forward and did the cleansing the Acholi way,” said Okwera.