Police hold six vendors over protest

Law enforcement officers impounded the goods after the vendors reportedly ignored a directive to leave an area in Awindiri Trading Centre, which was not a gazette market.

Police in Adjumani District are holding six people accused of organising a protest by vendors against the impounding of their merchandise by law enforcement officers.
According to Adjumani authorities, law enforcement officers impounded the goods after the vendors reportedly ignored a directive to leave an area in Awindiri Trading Centre, which was not a gazette market.
The district police commander, Mr Andrew Kaggwa, said the vendors became rowdy and started throwing stones and sticks at police deployed to calm the situation.
“The suspects have been charged with inciting violence and participating in an illegal demonstration,” Mr Kaggwa said.

Relocation dispute
The town clerk, Mr Samuel Lagu, said: “We have since November 30 instructed the vendors to shift to Gaa-Gaa market so that they can occupy empty stalls for easy monitoring, hygiene and good planning purposes but they have remained adamant.”
But the spokesperson of the vendors, Mr Emmanuel Morizi, said they were only given a one-day ultimatum to vacate the premises which most vendors refused, saying the message was too abrupt.

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