Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Regional Police Spokesperson says the restriction falls within the guidelines of COVID-19 established for political parties to follow while conducting activities.
The Police have restricted the number of delegates to attend the
Democratic Party-DP National Delegates Conference in Gulu.
The two days Conference which is being hosted in Gulu at Sir Samuel
Baker Secondary School starts on Saturday and ends on Sunday. Out of the expected
1,000 delegates, only 700 have been allowed to attend.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Regional Police Spokesperson
says the restriction falls within the guidelines of COVID-19
established for political parties to follow while conducting activities.
“We have inspected the venue and it has every facility recommended
within the guidelines of COVID-19 and we commend them for following the
directives” Okema added.
However, addressing the press at Northern Uganda Media Club on
Friday afternoon, Linda Ocheng, the Democratic Party Deputy Woman Leader for
Kampala Region says the restriction may affect the party for discussing key issues
within the party and the country.
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On Friday some delegates from various parts of the country had started arriving in Gulu.
During the conference, the members will be presented with an audit
report of the financial management in the party and presentation of a report on
the progress of the democratic governance in the country among others.
The party will also amend part of its constitution before the election
of new office bearers.
The delegates conference comes at a time when the party has lost
members to opposition parties. Last month 13 DP Members of Parliament joined
the National Unity Platform party headed by Robert Kyagulanyi.
Simon Wokorach
Freelancer