The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has strongly condemned the arrest of its party president, Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, along with several other party leaders, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
Among those detained alongside Amuriat are Joan Alobo (Soroti City Woman MP), Jonathan Ebwalu (Soroti City West MP), and Julius Ekudo (Akobo County MP) among others
They were arrested following a protest in Soroti demanding government compensation for lost cattle.
In a statement ,the party stated that those leaders were reportedly arrested under unclear circumstances.
“The police must disclose their whereabouts immediately. If they have committed any offense, they should be presented before the courts of law, not subjected to arbitrary detention,” the FDC stated.
The party has accused security agencies of political persecution, arguing that the arrests are an attempt to suppress opposition activities.
As of now, police have not issued an official statement regarding the detentions, and the whereabouts of the arrested leaders remain unknown.
The FDC has vowed to take legal action and mobilize supporters to demand justice.
The leaders, rallying under the slogan "No Cow, No Vote," were protesting the government's failure to fulfill its promise to compensate livestock lost during past insurgencies.
The demonstration, which was scheduled to include prayers at the Public Gardens in Soroti City, was met with heavy police deployment that blocked the venue.
Security forces intercepted and arrested the leaders before they could address the crowd. Several supporters attempting to join the protest were also dispersed with tear gas.
Speaking before his arrest, Amuriat accused the government of neglecting cattle keepers in Eastern and Northern Uganda despite previous commitments to compensate them.
"People lost their livelihoods, and to date, the government has turned a deaf ear. If they do not compensate our people, they should not expect our votes," he stated.
Soroti City West MP Jonathan Ebwalu and Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo also condemned what they called a "selective compensation policy," arguing that while other regions had received compensation, the Teso sub-region remained neglected.
Efforts to reach regional police commander Damalie Nachuha for a comment were unsuccessful.
Despite the arrests, supporters have vowed to continue pushing for compensation, as tensions remain high.