Business Halted for Several Hours as Police Battles FDC Supporters in Gulu City

Business came to a halt for several hours in Gulu City as police engaged supporters of the  Forum for Democratic (FDC) party in running battles this afternoon. 

The Field Force Unit police officers fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the supporters who turned rowdy.

The FDC supporters were following their presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat and other dignitaries as they held a procession along Gulu Main Street through other major streets. 

Some of the residents were seen picking the teargas canisters and throwing them back at the police, while others used stones to attack the heavily armed police officers.  

The police later fired teargas and battled the FDC supporters as shops, restaurants, banking institutions and mobile money outlets all closed. The streets that were completely closed off include; Olal, Awere, Lagara, Oliya and Acholi Road.

Amuriat was walking without shoes through the Ring Road to Awere Open Grounds in Layibi-Bardege Division where he was scheduled to address voters. They moved while flashing the FDC sign and shouting their slogan ‘’One People One Uganda’’ and calling upon onlookers to join them for change.

Amuriat was later intercepted by heavily armed police from the Awere Open Grounds from where he was arrested. Some of the business people told Uganda Radio Network - URN that they could not continue with business for fear of losing their valuables to the rowdy crowds.   

Richard Okello, a hawker told URN that the majority of the youth who participate in such environments are thieves and robbers who take advantage of the situation to steal from unsuspecting people.