Anti- riot Police was visible on Tuesday morning along the road leading to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital ahead of Kiiza Besigye’s campaign in Gulu and Nwoya district.
Besigye is expected to address three rallies in Lalogi, Opit and Aswa before meeting his supporters at Kaunda grounds in Gulu town.
Gulu hospital is a stone throw from Gulu Central Police Station.
Police Field Force Unit (PFF) dressed in anti- riot gear and armed with tear gas canisters were seen along strategic locations in Gulu town.
The regular police mounted a road block near the main gate of the central police, on the way to Gulu Referral hospital.
When contacted, Edwin Atukunda, the OC Gulu central police said the deployment has nothing to do with Besigye’s visit.
Since Besigye’s recent visit to the dilapidated Abim Referral hospital, which he described as ‘‘mortuary,’’ hospitals have become a no-go-zone for Besigye and Independent candidate Amama Mbabazi, with police deployed to block the duo in the event they decide to visit a health facility.
Atukunuda of Gulu police said they deployed at the hospital because the facility is overwhelmed by the number of patients and need police support to control movement at the facility.
The Director of the hospital, Dr Nathan Onyaci, when contacted on phone said he was away from office and therefore unware of any police deployment.