Foreign Affairs Disowns Claims Against Amb. Dickson Ogwang
By Our reporter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kampala) has totally denounced accusations against Ambassador Dickson Ogwang for being behind the British High Commission’s denial of visa to Foreign Service Officer, Miriam Otengo.
Miriam, the estranged wife of Ogwang, who earlier accused the latter of battering her to pulp in the United States and subsequently resulted to his recall to Uganda in 2018, has amusingly been given a Foreign Service job and posted to London as the former husband grasses in Kampala.
Ms. Otengo robustly took to the social media on Sunday accusing Ogwang of continuing to torment her and now “targeting” her career in diplomacy.
“Am a survivor of GBV and seeking justice. My abuser is torturing and tormenting me. My life is at risk, my career is hanging. I can’t take this. I need help,” said Miriam Otengo.
It is now understood that Ms. Otengo applied for a UK visa in September 2019 but the British High Commission in Kampala denied her the travel document over the fathers of the five children she wanted to take to London.
According to Foreign Affairs sources, the five children included the two she produced with Ogwang while in US, one in her earlier relationship and two from her sisters.
The dilemma reportedly emerged when Otengo failed to ascertain and produce consent from the fathers of the children. We have been told that Ogwang is yet to give consent to the former wife to take the two children to London over unknown reasons.
“The High Commission (British) questioned the fathers of the children and how one person managed to produce multiple children of almost similar ages,” said a source.
Ms. Otengo is well convinced that the former husband “compromised” the British High Commission to deny her visa.
The State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem has however powerfully disowned Ms. Otengo’s allegations saying no one has the capacity in the country to influence visa application.
“It’s not possible that even me as a minister, I have capacity to influence anybody’s visa application. The allegation that Ambassador Ogwang is behind denying anyone a visa is rubbish and unfounded so please disregard it,” said Okello Oryem.
According to Okello Oryem, if government or its officials had powers, the likes of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi would not have gotten the opportunity to globetrot to “blackmail” the country.
“We haven’t used such undue influence to block Bobi Wine from globetrotting to blackmail Uganda. It’s an illusion just,” said Okello Oryem.
Ms. Otengo in her social media posts tagged and appealed to the European Union, French Ambassador Jules-Arman Aniambossou and Akina Mama wa Africa to come to her rescue since the husband is using his influence to upset her career as a diplomat.
“At one point in our lives, we all need help, a shoulder, it’s this time that I need the help, the shoulder to lean on, I need the justice. I invite you from all walks of life to the occasion of saving me. Every woman is a potential GBV victim,” she said.
When contacted on phone for a comment Ogwang directed our reporter to Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“I am not in position to tell you what you want, kindly get in touch with Foreign Affairs,” said Ogwang before hanging up.
