Kisumu
3/12/07
 
TWO LRA DELEGATION TO PEACE TALKS DETAINED BY HOTELS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF ACCOMODATION AND SERVICE’S GULU

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
There was a drama in Gulu town in Northern Uganda when two members of LRA peace delegation were on Friday last week detained and their two vehicles impounded by hoteliers over unpaid bills.
 
The management of Hotel Pearl Afrique barred Yusuf Adek and Peter Ongom Opio from leaving the hotel premises until they pay Ushs 200 million the LRA team owes several hotels.
 
A fireman LRA delegation is in Uganda consulting the people on reconciliation and accountability.
 
At the time the two were detained, the Chairman Martin Ojul, and two others were reported to be in western Uganda.
 
Early last month, the LRA team booked rooms in various hotels in Gulu from November 2 to November 10 to facilitate their work in northern Uganda.
 
Celvin Oduor, the Gulu hoteliers chairman, said the LRA delegation has unpaid bills at about 20 different hotels in town. The matter has been reported to the police.
 
‘’We contacted, Ojul who in turn declined to comment saying he was in a meeting’’.

‘’We cannot release Adek and Opio until they pay the entire bill,’’ Mr. Odar insisted.
 
The hotels and service providers who say they are owed money include Hotel Pearl Afrique, Jojos Palace, Hotel Davitime, Abda Lapok, Cosmos Guest House, Sports view, Golden Gate, Hotel Roma, Rainbow Guest House, Purmids Lodge, Limpee Guest House and Franklin Guest House.
 
Other service providers include St. Monica Girls Tailoring School, Binen Restaurant and Gulu Quarry Works.
 
The accumulated bill is for accommodation, food, drinks and other services including the hire of conference rooms and centers for consultative meetings.
 
Hotel Roma is claiming Ushs 2.1 million, Cosmo Guest House Ushs 6.6 million, Hotel Pearl Afrique Ushs 63 million, Hotel Jojo Palace Hotel Ushs 1.8 million and Gulu Quarry Work Ushs 3 million.
 
‘’The people have detained us here demanding their payment. It is their right to demand payments. This money was cleared by the chief negotiator Dr. Riek Machor.
 
‘’We don’t know why the bills have not been paid up to now, said Mr. Opio.
 
Machar, the South Sudan Vice President handler the LRA’s expenses.
 
Opio said the money was remitted a long time ago and demanded that Santa Okot, another member of the peace team who is in charge of accommodation, to explain delays in the payment.
 
Okot could not be reached immediately for comment as her place remained switched off the whole last week.
 
‘’I am now being used as an exhibit of the failure to pay bills because I am one of the LRA delegates who slept in the hotels and benefited from other services,’’ Adek lamented.
 
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com