MPs Odonga Otto, Gilbert Olanya Arrested for Staging Illegal Protest

Police have arrested the Kilak South MP, Gilbert Olanya and Aruu South MP Samuel Odonga Otto for staging an illegal protest.

Olanya and Otto were arrested on Monday from Cereleno market in Gulu town together with Kelly Komakech, the Pece Division Chairman and Stella Kijange, a rights activist.

On Saturday Eighty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported of which 50 entered through the Elegu point of entry. 

Otto and the other demonstrators held placards reading, ‘Gulu Hospital Cannot handle all cases’, ‘Truck Drivers in Elegu are Intentional’.

Before his arrest, Otto said that Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has exceeded its capacity to handle COVID -19 positive patients.

According to records at Gulu Referral Hospital, there are 65 COVID-19 positive patients.

The hospital is supposed to handle only 11 cases.

Olanya demanded that other COVID -19 patients be transferred to either Mulago Hospital in Kampala or Entebbe Grade B Hospital.

However, their presence attracted hundreds of vendors who became rowdy prompting police field force unit commanded by Emmanuel Mafundo, the Gulu District Commander to arrest the MPs. They were driven to Gulu Central Police Station.

Jimmy Patrick Okema, Aswa region police spokesperson says the four also mobilized a group of people who burnt tyres along the Gulu-Nimule Highway.  

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Last week, Acholi Parliamentary group asked the government to quarantine Elegu border post to curtail the spread of the deadly disease, especially by truck drivers.