The army has deployed in Jinja to quell the Walk to Work demonstration that began this morning. The decision to deploy the army was reached in a security meeting chaired by Katende Lutu, Jinja Resident District Commissioner.
Armored military vehicles and Anti Personnel carriers are patrolling the streets of Jinja town. By the time, UPDF was deployed the demonstration had already spread to Mbiko, Bugembe, Mpumudde and Mafubira town ships.
Dominic Sempala, a resident of Mbiko says that despite the heavy police deployment in Mbiko the protests have persisted at Yesu Amala market. He says that residents are pelting police with stones while pushing forward to Kisanja zone.
Residents have also blocked the Kampala Jinja highway thereby affecting the smooth flow of traffic. Ivan Bruno Kimalyo, Jinja district CID chief has appealed to residents to calm down.
Samuel Kitanda, the FDC chairman Jinja says that the Walk to work protest in the district has received overwhelming response as residents are ready to fight for their rights.
He says tomorrow all people aggrieved by fuel, high commodity prices will also protest high prices of electricity.
Running battles are still going on in Jinja town centre where over 80 people have been arrested and detained at Jinja, Njeru and Nalufenya police posts.
