Tensions ensured after Amuriat’s entourage led by Michael Lakony, the Amuru District LC 5 Chairperson stormed the Town Council to address enthusiastic supporters but police swung into action and blocked them.
Police in Amuru District on Thursday blocked Presidential
candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat’s rally in Pabbo Town Council.
Tensions ensured after Amuriat’s entourage led by Michael Lakony, the Amuru LCV
Chairperson stormed the Town Council to address enthusiastic supporters but
police swung into action and blocked them.
But Emmanuel Bwambale, the District Commander advised the team to
shift to Pabbo Secondary School compound few kilometres away from the Town
Council. However, Amuriat’s team resisted the directive arguing that the school
compound is isolated and bushy.
Following a heated exchange of words, confusion erupted after more than 1,000 FDC
supporters joined to back up their leaders.
Left with no option, anti-riot police fired teargas and live bullets to
disperse the angry crowd.
For several hours, businesses and traffic along the highway came
to a standstill as residents retreated to their shops and corridors for safety.
Morris Odong, an ardent FDC supporter told URN in an interview that they are
surprised of the continued interference by police aimed at foiling their
campaigns ahead of the 2021 general polls.
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Michael Lakony, the FDC chairman in Amuru explained the violent action of the
police was uncalled for since Presidential candidate, Amuriat was scheduled to
address his supporters in the District today.
Earlier on, Amuriat told URN in an interview that continued police
brutality against the party activities is intended to frustrate their struggle
to the advantage of the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni.
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When contacted, Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson
blamed FDC leaders for insisting on holding their rally in the middle of Gulu –
Nimule highway, an act that would flout the standard operating procedures to
curb the spread of novel Coronavirus Disease.
However, Okema disclosed that there were no arrests made and no
reported cases of injuries during the scuffle. By press time, Amuriat was
locked in FDC branch office in Pabbo Town Council.
America has been engaging police in running battles since his campaign trails
in Acholi sub-region which began on Tuesday in Kitgum Municipality. The latest
scuffle happened on Wednesday in Gulu City which led to his arrest.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
