More than 100 vendors of Kitgum main market yesterday closed businesses and stormed Kitgum Magistrate Court in protest over what they described as unlawful arrest and detention of their executive members.
The vendors, most of whom are fish mongers and tomatoes dealers say the arrest of the Kitgum Vendors Association chairperson Concy Atim and her deputy Susan Adokorach has direct impact on the activities of the association.
The duo was arrested from the Market on Monday after being tricked by the police that they were going to simply to write statements and return. The cunning strategy of the police cooled down the rowdy vendors who wanted to attack the cops.
The arrest of Atim followed a misunderstanding between the Association and one of the members Christine Oyella. Oyella’s mother Teresa Adyero, a vendor in the market was suspended for breaching the Association rules when she did not turn up for the funeral of another member of the Association who died last week. Oyella then took the matter to police.
The vendors went to court and demanded the release of their leaders who where being produced in court on the same day. The two were granted bail by Grade One Magistrate Simon Peter Odoo.
The vendors explained that they would continue running the Association as usual and work hard to eliminate any cases of indiscipline.
Jonathan Olworo, the LC 1 of Kitgum central ward where the market is located appealed for calm and urged the vendors to resume their normal operation in the market.
