Police Sunday evening fired teargas to disperse a crowd of supporters of the Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao.
Police had just blocked Mao’s rally at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu town.
With the venue of the rally blocked, Mao, after waiting for more than an hour, jumped on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) from Kaunda grounds and sped off towards to Pece War Memorial Stadium. His supporters followed him toward the stadium while announcing that the venue of the rally had been changed to the stadium.
But on their way, police led by the Gulu district police commander, Martin Okoyo, teargassed the Mao supporters sending them into disarray.
Shops were quickly closed as the situation turned rowdy.
The boda-boda who was carrying Mao quickly sped off with the opposition politician.
There were no reports of injuries in the scuffle between the police and Mao supporters.
Earlier, there was heavy anti-riot police deployment at Kaunda grounds in Gulu town.
Mao’s rally which was to be addressed by other Acholi leaders was meant to among others address the recent security concerns in Gulu district; last Sunday’s attack on the central police in Gulu and earlier, the attack on Opit army detach. Opposition politician Dan Oola Odiya of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has been charged in relation to the attacks.
In a letter date June 14, 2016, Mao wrote to the Gen Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) notifying him of his intention to hold a public gathering at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu town.
The letter was copied to the Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC), religious as well as cultural leaders.
Mao also extended an invitation to the 4th Division Commander, Brig Muhanga Kayanja and District Police Commander (DPC), Martin Okoyo.
The DP President noted that the outcome of the meeting will offer a sense of security and hope amidst anxieties over recent security concerns in the district.
In 2010, Police fired tear gas at Mao and his supporters during a walk-to-work protest in Gulu. Three people were killed by security forces under unclear circumstances.
