FDC's Amuriat, Soroti city woman MP arrested

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Police on Friday afternoon fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who were demonstrating over an alleged failure by the government to compensate communities who lost cattle during the insurgency in the Teso sub-region. 

The demonstration started with a procession from the FDC party offices along old Mbale Road led by the party president Eng Patrick Oboi Amuriat. The huge crowds matched uninterrupted until they reached the main roundabout on the main street.

FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat flanked by Gweri County MP Tom Julius Ekudo, Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo and Soroti West MP Jonathan Ebwalu matching to the Soroti Independence Square. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Politicians in the crowd also included Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo, Soroti West MP Jonathan Ebwalu, Gweri county MP Tom Julius Ekudo and several councillors.

Soroti Independence Square, which was meant to be the venue where Amuriat was going to address the people, was occupied by the Police and the military.

“We have decided to stop in the middle of the road until Police evacuate the venue. We notified them that we shall be holding our meeting,” Amuriat said as they stood in the middle of the main street, blocking traffic from motorists coming from Lira and those coming from Mbale.

They spent over 30 minutes on the road, and when the traffic police officer turned up to guide the motorists, the supporters turned rowdy.

A fire the tyres that were burnt by FDC supporters during the demonstration. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

The DPC Soroti central Clement Okanya and DPC West division Rashid Byansi watched from inside Independence Square until the youth started burning tyers.

Efforts to have them evacuate the main road fell on deaf ears of the FDC supporters, leading to the firing of tear gas to disperse the people who had gathered.

“Your actions of interrupting traffic flow is not lawful; kindly get into Independence Square,” DPC Byansi was heard telling Amuriat and his team before the Police fired the tear gas.

Alobo, Amuriat and Soroti West councillor Isaac Asaku were arrested and taken to police regional headquarters.

FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat flanked by Gweri County MP Tom Julius Ekudo, Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo and Soroti West MP Jonathan Ebwalu during the demonstration. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

The regional Police Commander Kyoga East Damalie Nachuha, when contacted about the charges, said that they were not yet ready with the charges.

“We will brief you later, just hold on because we are still sorting out this issue,” RPC Nachuha said on Friday afternoon.

Before her arrest, Alobo told the media that they had notified the Police about their peaceful demonstration.

“We are shocked to learn that the police and the military have been deployed to scare our elders from coming to listen to us,” Alobo said.

FDC supporters wrestling with a Police traffic officer during the demonstration. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Ebwalu emphasised that the issue of compensation has persisted for years and that the framework paper does not include funds for compensation.

“We are saying as Iteso that no cow, no vote come 2026 general election. Our people are unable to pay school fees for their children as a result of poverty since their cows were stolen in broad daylight,” Ebwalu said.

Augustine Otuko, who works in the Office of the National Chairman, NRM, stated that the government has paid over sh32b to the claimants of cows.