Lt Gen Frederick Alexander Oketcho, the former director of External Security Organization, ESO, has been released after two months in Luzira prison.
He was arrested and jailed over a civil debt of about Shs 500m. Oketcho was first sentenced in October to six months in prison by High court deputy registrarMuse Musimbi, over failure to pay two debts; one of Shs 30.7m and another of Shs 285m.
A week later, he was picked from the prison and brought before another deputy registrar in charge of execution and bailiffs, Flavia Nassuna Matovu, who further imprisoned him for six months for failing to pay a moneylender, Patel R Arvind, Shs 185m.
The two sentences were supposed to run concurrently. Interviewed for a comment yesterday, Uganda Prisons Service spokesman, Frank Baine, confirmed that Oketcho is now a free man.
“Gen Oketcho was officially released on December 21 after paying the Shs 38m and consenting to later clear the other two [debts],” said Baine.
Interviewed by telephone, Oketcho’s wife confirmed yesterday that the general was a free man.
“I am here with him at our residence but he can’t talk to you because he is too tired and a bit sick, just say hello to him,” she said before handing the phone to Oketcho. “Yes, God is great. It is true I am out, thanks for your concern and whatever efforts you could have made. I did not steal from anybody [and] life will still go on. As my wife says, I am not in position to talk to you right now,” said Oketcho.
Oketcho, 70, was retired in September 2015 together with Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, the minister in charge of security.