Farouk Bwiiso, one of the victims, says that a teargas canister landed at the entrance of his door on Saturday night, injured his right leg and damaged all his household items.
Several people in Namutumba town council in
Namutumba district are nursing injuries they sustained from teargas canisters. Residents
close to Tirinyi-Mbale Highway in Namutumba Town Council, say that police often
use teargas during curfew time operations.
According to the residents, the teargas canisters fired by the
police often end up in the homes leaving them nursing injuries. Farouk Bwiiso, one of the victims, says that a teargas
canister landed at the entrance of his door on Saturday night, injured his
right leg and damaged all his household items.
Bwiiso says that
police officers inspected the scene but did not record statements from witnesses,
which might frustrate his efforts of attaining justice.
//cue in: “kati nali…
Cue out…bwentyo,”.
Ayub Nabongo says that his brother who is
currently undergoing treatment at a private health facility in Bugiri district
developed complications after exposure to the teargas fired by the police. She says
that police personnel declined to record statements from them claiming that the
victim grabbed the canister from officers on duty.
//Cue in: “njo’kuva…
Cue out…wano,”//
Federesi Namwase, another victim says that police
authorities inspected her house after, a canister landed on her rooftop and damaged
household items but she is hesitant to file a formal complaint because of
threats by some officers.
//cue in: “nali ntyaime…
Cue out…owundi,”.
Sharon Nakiyemba says that she is seven months
pregnant but claims to have started experiencing stomach complications after
exposure to teargas explosions early last week.
//Cue in: “nze nali…
Cue out…tuli mu’nsi kyi,”.
Scholastika Akayo, who is receiving treatment at a
private health facility within Namutumba town council, says police should
devise other means of enforcing curfew guidelines rather than using teargas
during nighttime when most people are peacefully settled in their homes.
//Cue in: “sawa dino…
Cue out…treatment,”.
Faridah Namutosi, another resident says that most
police personnel operate under influence of alcohol and they apply covetous
means rather than using community-policing modules, which can easily push the public
to voluntarily abide with the curfew guidelines.
//cue in: “embela eya…
Cue out…bubi,”.
Busoga East police spokesperson, Diana Nandawula,
says that a team of detectives is conducting inquiries into the allegations. She
declined to divulge details.
