Police in Hoima have arrested the Kiryatete East NRM Chairman Peter Mayanja for allegedly inciting residents to attack the municipal law enforcement officers.
Kiryatete residents on Thursday turned rowdy and attacked the law enforcement officers who were demolishing kiosks in Hoima town. The law enforcement officers and a group of men hired to carry away the uprooted kiosks were beaten as they tried to uproot a kiosk on Fort portal road.
One law enforcement officer and two men that participated in the operation sustained severe injuries and they are admitted at Kabalega Medical Center in Hoima town.
They have been identified as Isaac Eguma, a law enforcement officer, Douglas Mutiaba, a park guide and Ashraf Musinguzi, a driver. By press time Musinguzi was unconscious with a deep cut on the head and the arm. The other two victims had fractured arms.
Police picked up Mayanja accusing him of inciting the residents to attack the law enforcement officers. Zurah Ganyana, the Midwestern regional police publicist says police have reports that the NRM Chairman commanded residents to attack the municipal officials.
He is currently being detained at Hoima police station to help police in investigations.
Ganyana says once inquiries are complete, the local leader will be charged with inciting violence, obstruction and assault.
Meanwhile police has halted the municipal operation to demolish kiosks in town to allow calm to return.
Hoima municipal council on Wednesday mounted an operation to demolish all kiosks in the town to allow proper planning. Over 100 kiosks have been demolished leaving operators in confusion with nowhere to conduct business.
On Thursday, some of them were seen selling merchandise at the road sides. They have threatened to quit the NRM accusing the party leaders of neglecting them.
