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Police in Rukungiri on Wednesday disrupted a consultative meeting organized by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) at Katurika Church of Uganda in Buhunga Sub County. The meeting, led by former Rujumbura legislator Hon. Fred Turyamuhweza, aimed to engage with party structure leaders.
A fleet of police vehicles and officers from Rukungiri Central Police Station and Buhunga Police Post spent the day patrolling Kashojwa Village and Karisizo Trading Centre, clashing with FDC leaders and supporters to prevent the meeting.
During these clashes, a key speaker, Okidi Christopher—former president of the Young Democrats and the 8th guild president of Gulu University—was injured, allegedly by a rubber bullet. He is currently receiving treatment at Nyakibale Hospital.
Hon. Fred Tumuhirwe Turyamuhweza, the Rujumbura FDC chairperson and former MP, condemned the disruption, stating that their meetings had been sanctioned by the Inspector General of Police. He accused the local police of acting on political orders from Security Minister Jim Muhwezi, the Rujumbura County legislator. Turyamuhweza noted that similar disruptions occurred in Bugangari the previous day, where another FDC member was injured and is receiving treatment.
Betty Bamukwasa Muzanira, the former Rukungiri District Woman MP, criticized the police’s actions as shameful and unnecessary. She pointed out that their meetings in Rubabo and Rukungiri Municipality proceeded without issues, but the police began to intervene once they reached Rujumbura. According to her, the operations commander admitted they were following orders from higher authorities.
Despite these challenges, the FDC managed to hold the meeting in Buhunga after outmaneuvering the police, as confirmed by Innocent Rubarodesya, the secretary for mobilization in Rukungiri District. The FDC plans to hold a similar meeting in Ruhinda Sub County tomorrow.
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