Amuriat, two Soroti city MPs expected in court

By Godfrey Ojore  

After spending the weekend in Police custody, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president Patrick Amuriat and two Soroti City legislators Jonathan Ebwalu (West Division) and Joan Alobo (Woman) are expected to appear in court today, March 10, 2025.

FDC legal attorney Moses Okot Bitek (MP for Kyoga), on March 9, 2025, afternoon told New Vision Online that Police denied his clients a right to Police bond and informed them that they were ready to produce them in court.

“The Police assured us that they are not ready to give our clients bond but they are ready to produce them in court. We are ready to be in court and we shall apply for their bail,” Bitek said.

However, Kyoga East region Police commander Damalie Nachuha said the suspects refused to record statements even when they were allowed access to their lawyers.

“How do you expect us to give bond to people who are not talking? These people assaulted three Police officers on top of holding an illegal demonstration,” Nachuha said.
In response, Bitek dismissed Nachuha’s remarks saying the demonstration was lawful having notified the Inspector General of police.

“Firstly, there is no requirement in law for a client to record a statement and for a file to be processed,” Bitek said.

Police are preferring charges of holding unlawful assembly, Public Nuisance and Assault Vide SD Ref:22/07/03/2025.

Altogether, the Police in Soroti city are detaining six people who were arrested on Friday.

Cause of arrest

The two city MPs Alobo and Ebwalu wrote to the Inspector General of Police Abaas Byabakama notifying him of their plan to hold prayers in Soroti following the delayed compensation of the Iteso.

They intended also to use the same time to demand the unconditional release of four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye.

However, the venue of the intended prayers, Independence Square, was covered by the Police.

Amuriat, who led demonstrators, marched from the party offices and staged in the middle of Soroti Main Street, which disrupted traffic for several minutes.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the protestors and in the process, arrested the leaders and three others: Sam Acheitum, Sylus Emedu and Albert Ogalamu.

Police faulted Amuriat and the two MPs for duping the Police in their letter by claiming that they were going to hold prayers yet the objective was different.

“Their letter, which they addressed to the Inspector General of Police talked of prayers but the police were shocked to find the FDC leaders burning tyres and blocking traffic in the middle of the road,” Nachuha said.

On Monday morning, Gweri county MP Tom Julius Ekudo told New Vision Online that they were looking for the LC1 letters for the sureties who will be presented in court.

“We do not know the time when they will be presented to court but police have confirmed that they will be brought to court today Monday,” Ekudo said.

Nachuha confirmed that the suspects shall today be presented to court. 

It is further alleged that in June 2009, Mutungwire and others still arbitrarily entered into the memorandum without obtaining permission to allocate part of the forest land. The accused persons denied the charges and they are out on bail.