By Micheal Ojok
The Democratic Party (DP) has demanded for expeditious investigations and arrest of people implicated in orchestrating chaos that unfolded in Gulu City on Saturday during the visit of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu to canvas for votes to unseat President Yoweri Museveni.
Reports indicate that security personnel, alongside hired civilian youths commonly known as Aguu, dispersed crowds using force, beating up both supporters and journalists who were covering the event.
The group allegedly attacked traders, vandalized property, and assaulted some supporters of Kyagulanyi while security forces allegedly looked on.
Geoffrey Otim, the DP Chairperson for Gulu City, says with plenty of evidence, some circulating on various social media platforms, Police should expedite their investigations and arrest the master minders of the chaos.
Addressing journalists at Naguru Police Headquarters on Monday Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke described the incident as “regrettable, undesirable, and unfortunate” and announced that a general inquiry has been launched.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has acknowledged that the chaos that unfolded in Gulu City was “regrettable,” but maintains that the incident resulted from what they described as the candidate’s defiance of an agreed campaign route.
The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, in a press statement on Sunday evening, condemned what he described as a violent confrontation against the presidential candidate in Gulu City.
