At least 43 people who are suspected to be the ring leaders of the violent riots in Nebbi on Monday, have been remanded to Kakira government prison in Zombo district.
Two people were killed and 16 others seriously injured when angry demonstrators engaged police in day-long running battles.
The violence came after Ezrom William Alenyo was for the third time blocked from being sworn in as Nebbi district chairman. A high court ruling had declared Alenyo duly elected chairman and threw out the current chairman, Robert Okumu, who had been declared winner after a controversial vote recount.
The suspects who are mainly youths were remanded on Tuesday evening after their files were sanctioned by the Resident State Attorney.
They appeared before Nebbi Grade Two magistrate George Komakech who read out several counts of arson, illegal assembly, malicious damage to property, rioting and assault to them. On some of the charges the suspects were not allowed to take plea since the offences can only be tried by the chief magistrate’s court.
But on the offences such as assault, malicious damage to property, illegal assembly to disrupt public peace, the suspects were allowed to enter plea. They all denied the charges before they were remanded till November 1st when their case comes again for mentioning.
Earlier on police had arrested and detained 40 suspected protestors but three more were picked on Tuesday.
Since some of the cases in which the suspects have been remanded cannot be tried by the Grade Two magistrate, Komakech advised those who would like to apply for bail to apply to the chief magistrate’s court.
The remand of the suspects has attracted outrage from the supporters of Alenyo, who have threatened to go ahead with protests if government does not intervene to address the problem that has so far led to loss of three lives in two different riots over the same issue.
According Alenyo, he is still the LC 5 chairman and will continue to fight on if the government does not intervene.
He described as intimidation the heavy anti-riot police deployment in Nebbi, saying it is not police and army that voted for him to become district chairman in the February 23 elections.
But Josephine Angucia, the police spokesperson for West Nile has warned the protestors to desist from their behavior and resort to good avenues of resolving the standoff. It is not yet clear what will come after the remand of the suspects and police has kept its heavy presence in Nebbi.
