Police in Amuru district this afternoon fired tear gas and live bullets to block Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat from campaigning in Pabbo Town Council.
Amuriat who arrived at the town council at around 4:30pm was scheduled to campaign at Pabbo Mission.
The L.C 1 chairman of Lungol cell in Pabbo Town council, Stephen Obalo told Mega Fm that Amuriat started campaigning along the way prompting police to guide him to the venue in Pabbo mission but that he refused.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson said the returning officer and security in Amuru agreed that Amuriat’s rally be held at Pabbo mission.
He said they were forced to fire tear gas to avoid endangering people’s lives
Okema says police will use in any force to disperse unauthorized crowds.
Amuriat who was also set to campaign in Atiak and Elegu Town councils before proceeding to Adjumani district.
Meanwhile, Police officers on the security detail of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat have complained of attacks by their Field Force Police-FFP colleagues.
The officers say they have become victims of teargas, water cannons and other forms of brutality from their counterparts deployed to break up Amuriat’s rallies.
On Wednesday, the officers were teargassed by dozens of Field Force Police-FFP personnel from Gulu Central Police Station while struggling to quell down rowdy FDC supporters who were holding a procession through Gulu City.
The FFP officers threw teargas at the presidential candidate as members of his security detail tried to shield him.
Some of the officers who spoke on condition of anonymity at Awere Open Grounds where Amuriat was scheduled to address a rally said that it is quite unfortunate that they are being targeted by their colleagues who should protect them.
meanwhile, police in Gulu has preferred charges of negligent act likely to cause the spread of an infectious disease against FDC Presidential Candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat who was yesterday arrested in Gulu.
Police says it arrested Amuriat for holding illegal processions, rallies and defying agreed directives and route to the main campaign venue at Awere playing grounds in Bardege-Layibi division in Gulu city.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region police spokesperson said that Amuriat who was later released on bond is required to report back to Gulu Central police station on 30th November 2020.
