The angry supporters first stormed Jinja Central Police Station demanding an explanation on why the meeting was cancelled, forcing the police to fire tear gas.
Business in Jinja Central Division came to a standstill as the police dispersed Democratic Party (DP) supporters who were protesting against the cancelled reunion meeting.
The angry supporters first stormed Jinja Central Police Station demanding an explanation on why the meeting was cancelled, forcing the police to fire tear gas.
Mariam Nakimuli, a resident Iganga road says that she fled her home together with her children in fear of the tear gas.
“Tear gas has been on for almost 30 minutes and I decided to leave my house with all the children because as of now, we are fed up of the scaring sound and tears rolling down our eyes,” she said.
The group later on reorganized and matched through the streets of Jinja town demanding police to allow DP's President Nobert Mao address them. However, the police refused and instead started canning them.
Mao convened a press conference at Space café restaurant along Lubas road in Jinja town and accused police of intentionally frustrating DP's meeting.
He further accused police of confiscating the party's banners, two vehicles and music systems which were meant to be used at the meeting.
//Cue in: “the laws of…
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Fred Mukasa Mbidde, a representative in the East African Legislative Assembly expressed disappointment over what he termed as police brutality. He DP is a registered political party which has a right to mobilize for the upcoming general elections.
//Cue in: “it is really…
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Police, however, stormed the press conference and whisked away Mao together his aides to Jinja central police. However, he was later released and escorted outside Jinja town.
The Kiira region police commander, Paul Nkore said that he directed the DP leadership to seek clearance from police headquarters before organizing the reunion meeting.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Nabende, a journalist attached to Apex FM together is nursing injuries he sustained during the protests.
Nabende who was rushed to Jinja regional referral hospital complains of chest pain and hand bruises.
"I was covering a story about DP supporters who were protesting at Jinja central police station when unknown policemen pushed me down and I started coughing profusely and my friends rushed me to the hospital. I also have wounds all over my hands and I am feeling a lot of chest pain, “he said.
