By John Stephen Katende

12^th Sept 2011:

Seated bottom right: Akaki at Oslo conference

Forum for Democratic Change [FDC] International Envoy to the United Kingdom & European Union Mr. Sam Akaki collapsed on board a Scandinavian Airways flight from Olso to London on Friday 9^th September, raising immediate fears that the top opposition ‘diplomat’ may have been poisoned by some “government hit men”.

Mr Akaki had been invited to Norway by the Norwegian Council for Africa [an organisation formed in 1964 as an anti-Apartheid movement] to make a presentation on the ‘Post-election Violence by Government Forces and the Prospect for Democracy in Uganda’.

Other panellist at the event that was moderated by Ugandan Journalist Ms Annette Kizza were Mr Robert Egwea, Secretary for Research and Political Affairs, NRM UK and Ireland Chapter, Dr. Vincent Magombe, a London-based Ugandan Lecturer, Researcher, and Journalist; and Ms Bjørg Leite, former Norwegian ambassador to Uganda.

Although most of the other London-based Ugandan panellists were scheduled to return to London on the same flight as Mr Akaki, some, including the NRM representatives, for some unknown reason, changed their minds at the last minute and either stayed behind or took other flights, leaving Mr Akaki and Dr Magome alone on the flight.

It was during the flight from Oslo to London that Mr Akaki suddenly felt unwell and lost conscientiousness, raising fears that he may have been poisoned at the Oslo conference.  Akaki received emergency first aid treatment from a Doctor who was on board the same flight and regained consciousness before the plane touched down at London Heathrow International Airport.

On arrival at Heathrow, Akaki was received by an ambulance crew [alerted by the airline Captain] who then rushed him to a nearby hospital where by press time, he was said to be in a “…serious but stable condition”. When he regained consciousness, Akaki expressed fears of possible poisoning to Dr. Vincent Magombe.  “…Museveni’s killers may have got me this time”, Akaki said.

Other FDC leaders have in the past died under suspicious and mysterious circumstances.  They include FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye’s young brother Joseph Musasazi Kifefe [RIP], former FDC National Chairman Dr Suleiman Kigundu [RIP], and Samuel Okiring [RIP] – an FDC Lawyer who died in Canada a few months after he was released from Luzira prison.

Uganda Correspondent has independently established that Mr. Akaki was admitted at Ealing Hospital in West London.  “…They [Doctors] found no specific cause of his sudden illness.  He has however been referred to see a consultant neurologists as well as a toxicologist on Monday [today] and Wednesday respectively”, said a close confidant and colleague of Mr. Akaki based in London.

A source at FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi told this reporter that they recently warned their leaders abroad to watch out for what he called “…government murder squads sent to finish them off”. END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.