11 people, including two expectant mothers, were admitted to Mulago Hospital with various injuries they suffered during today’s Walk-to-Work protests in Kireka, near Kampala.
By 4pm, the two women were still admitted and undergoing treatment but five of the other injured had been discharged after regaining consciousness.
Most of the injured were being treated for suffocation and choking from teargas.
However, the fate of one man, Gerald Kato, shot in the head, is not very clear. Initial reports at the hospital had indicated that he had died on his way to the hospital but a Red Cross source at the hospital who preferred not to be named, said that he was still undergoing surgery in the theater.
The Public Relations Officer for Mulago Hospital, Dan Kimosho, said that the number of today’s riot victims is small compared to last week. He said that apart from Kato, the other victims were all brought while conscious.
Today’s episode of the Walk-to-Work riots in Kireka was sparked off after security arrested a number of opposition leaders led by newly elected MP for Kyadondo East, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda. The riots led to teargas being lobbed at civilians, sending many of them fleeing for dear life.
The Walk-to-Work campaign today entered its second week, with opposition leaders involved saying they will not stop until government intervenes to reduce fuel and commodity prices while government insists that it is not responsible for the skyrocketing costs of living in the country.
The riots from the campaigns have so far injured several people and led to the arrests and charging of hundreds.
