Nile, where he had taken a job representing a rebel group which had signed a peace deal with the Ugandan government. Five months later he rejoined Gowon's trial, only to disappear again in February 2003, this time for good. For lack of firm evidence, the judge acquitted Gowon and the two other defendants on 25 September 2003. His release was celebrated by his family and sympathizers, mostly from West Nile, while Laki's family and sympathizers, mostly from southern Uganda, decried it as injustice. Some even spread conspiracy theories according to which the government had installed the judge, a Muslim, because he would support Gowon and his co-defendants. The former Chief of Staff regarded the verdict as vindication of his innocence. Later life Following his release, Gowon resumed his work in the veterans association, and consequently advocated for a greater unity among ex-combatants of West Nile origin. However, he struggled to pay the legal bills of the trial. By 2005, he was spending most of his time at Arua where he still possessed a house, and had joined a class action lawsuit against several banks that had frozen assets of Amin-era officials worth 50 million dollars. Personal life Academic Andrew Rice described Gowon as a "simple man" who is "cheerful by disposition", and easily makes friends. He has 28 children by four different wives, and 22 grandchildren. Gowon is fluent in Swahili, and he understands a little English. He is a Muslim. Notes References Citations Works cited 1936 births Ugandan military personnel Living people People from West Nile sub-region Ugandan exiles Military personnel of the Uganda–Tanzania War Ugandan Muslims