A mob in Lamwo district on Friday last week set ablaze a car belonging to the LC3 Chairman in protest at the arrest of a man suspected to have been in possession of an army uniform.
George Nyeko’s double-cabin pick-up truck was set ablaze in Ocula Parish, Ocula village in Lukung Sub County.
Mr Nyeko is the LC3 Chairperson Lamwo town council.
Nyeko along with a police officer had reportedly arrested a man suspected to have been in possession of an army uniform. The arrest reportedly didn’t go well with locals. It was not immediately clear why locals were unhappy.
Lamwo district Police Commander Mr Eria Elopot said as Mr Nyeko drove way with the suspect he was involved in an accident a short distance from the scene of the arrest.
“While Nyeko was driving away one of the front tires burst forcing the vehicle to overturn. Locals rushed to the scene and set ablaze the vehicle,” Mr Elopot told Acholi Times in an interview on Saturday.
Elopot said a police officer with the LC3 Chairman fired in the air to disperse a crowd armed with spears, clubs, bows and arrows.
“If the officer acted unprofessionally, he would have wounded or killed the protestors, but instead they chose to take off along with the chairperson for safety,” Mr Elopot said.
The police commander said the Chairman and the police officer escaped with minor injuries after the accident.
Police has arrested 10 suspects in connection with the burning of the vehicle
“After completion of investigation, the suspects will be taken to court and charged with malicious damage of property,” Mr Elopot said.
Police said two key suspects are still missing.
