Tororo: Police use teargas to disperse rowdy councillors

DAVID OCHIENG

Police in Tororo district yesterday battled with a section of Tororo county district councillors who wanted to disrupt a council session at the district chambers.

In the end, they used tear gas to disperse the councillors who were armed with big sticks ready to fight their counterparts from West Budama.

The long standing disagreement stems from the dispute between Ateso and Japadhola in the district over sharing of resources.

Several of them were arrested and taken to Tororo police station for interrogation.

By 7 am, police had already pitched camp at the district headquarters to protect the council session that was expected to start by 9am after getting information that a section of district councillors  from Tororo county were planning to disrupt it.

After few minutes later, a team of councillors from Tororo County headed by their caucus chairperson Rogers Emailuk arrived armed with sticks and tried to forcefully access the facility.

This prompted police to respond by forcing them to get away from the gate.

When clearance of the team proved difficult, police used teargas to disperse the angry councillors together with their supporters before arresting some.

The battle between the police and these councillors continued outside of the district headquarters down to the central business district where police got involved in running battles with some councillors who wanted to destabilise business.

John Rutaagira, the district police commander Tororo said their response followed a tip off that some councillors were planning to disrupt the council session that had been for a long time planned.

Speaking to the angry councillors, they expressed disappointment with the police for blocking them from accessing the council session venue.