The New Vision

One killed, 8 hurt in Mbale park riot

Publication date: Wednesday, 2nd June, 2004

SORRY: People console Mafabi after he sustained injuries in the violence yesterday

By Nathan Etengu

One person was shot dead and eight others were injured yesterday during a riot over the management of two taxi parks in Mbale town.
The rioters smashed windows and windscreens of taxis owned by drivers who support Mbale United Transp-orters, the firm managing Mbale main and Kumi road taxi parks.

The dead was identified as Wambedde Wamboya, who was hit by a stray bullet fired by the Police.
Wamboya was in a group of rowdy youths who were hurling stones at people moving to Mbale main taxi park.

The injured included Mustafa mafabi, a son of a prominent businessman.
Mbale district Police commander Stephen Musoke said he was investigating the circumstances under which some people were shot.

The riot was sparked off by two contradictory court orders issued by the Commercial Court.
On May 19, the municipal council sought a court order directing Mbale United Transporters to vacate the taxi parks by May 31.
The order was signed by the registrar of the commercial court, John Eudes Keitirima.

Keitirima also instructed the firm to pay sh3m to two lawyers who represented Mbale Municicpal council in the consent judgement.
The order disposed off an earlier high court application in which mbale United Transpor-ters challenged the termination of their contract.

Keitirima, however, issued an interim order on may 31 giving Mbale United transporters the authority to manage the two parks until the final disposal of a civil suit challenging the termination of the contract.
He said he issued the second interim order after the proprietors of Mbale Untied Transporters said their interests were not well articulated during the hearing of a civil suit.

Musoke said he had received instructions from the resident state attorney to honour the interim order issued on Monday.

This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/363706