Police fires teargas to disperse rioting drivers

BY DONALD KIIRYA
A strike by taxi operators paralyzed transport in Jinja and the entire Busoga region as drivers protested the hike in penalties brought about by the revised express penalty scheme (EPS). The demonstration followed a threat by the drivers last week that they would lay down their tools until their grievances were met by the concerned authorities.

By 6:00am Monday morning, the angry drivers parked their vehicles and blocked the Jinja-Iganga-Bugiri road at Bugembe Township, in an attempt to stop other motorists from ferrying passengers. They put barricades that included huge stones and heaps of garbage in the middle of the road as well as burning tyres as others pelted taxis and buses that tried to forcibly ferry passengers, with stones breaking their windscreens in the process.

As the situation got out of hand, the police commanded by the Kiira North division DPC, Samuel Madira, engaged the protesters in Bugembe township in running battles, in a bid to restore normalcy.

Anti-riot Policemen were later brought in after Madira called for re-enforcement. Police had to fire bullets and teargas at the rowdy drivers who had grouped in Wanyama, Bugembe and Wanyange trading centres, to contain the situation.
Clouds of teargas could be seen hovering over the three townships as other residents struggled to wash their faces with water to mitigate the effects of the tear gas.

Anti riot Police  arrive at the scene of the riot .Photo by DONALD KIIRYA




A rioter throwing boxes and paper on a burning tyre at Bugembe during the riot by drivers.Photo by DONALD KIIRYA

Anti-riot Policemen firing teargas towards drivers who were protesting .Photo by DONALD KIIRYA

A lady with her daugther taking cover in a trench as Police fire live bullets..Photo by DONALD KIIRYA

A Policeman firing live bulets in air as drivers were protesting in Bugembe Photo by DONALD KIIRYA

Rioters holding stones which they used to pelt at Police. Photo by DONALD KIIRYA