A businessman in Gulu has been arrested for punching a female police officer who was on duty enforcing the presidential directive suspending sale of non-food commodities in markets to contain spread of coronavirus pandemic.
Denis Obalim was arrested on Thursday morning by heavily armed police officers from his shop along Ring Road next to Cereleno Market. Obalim was arrested on the orders Emmanuel Mafundo, the Gulu District Police Commander,
It all started when Obalim resisted police orders to close his premises and order five people who in his shop out.
Obalim resisted police orders and reportedly became violent, verbally attacking the female police officer before punching her to the ground.
Other police officers rushed to the scene and wrestled with Obalim and overpowered him, before bundling and driving him away in a police patrol car to the Gulu Central Police Station.
Tegwana parish Chairperson Geoffrey Onekalit said that it was wrong for Obalim to fight the officers on duty.
President Museveni on Wednesday evening suspended sale of non-food items to avoid crowding in markets and public transport to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Uganda on Wednesday confirmed 14 cases of coronavirus.
