Blocking Acholi leader's meeting is suspicious - Mao

The Democratic Party (DP) president Nobert Mao has said the blocking of Sunday afternoon's rally whose noble intention was to "publically dissuade people from joining alleged rebel recruitment" is suspicious. 

Mao who convened the meeting and dished out invitation letters on June 14^th, said from the list of invitees to address the public, the meeting was not of a political nature to warrant such Police action. 

"The meeting was about calming our people who are getting anxious with fresh talk of rebellion whose authenticity they wanted to be debated publically. This government is so mindful of the way it came to power that it cannot help being suspicious.

The fact that we have never endorsed the NRM presidential candidate in the way we vote does not mean we are not law abiding," Mao said. 

Mao said among NRM leaning politicians who had travelled to Gulu and were scheduled to address the residents are NRM deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, East African Legislative Assembly Speaker, Dan Kidega and Disaster Preparedness Minister Hilary Onek who was chief guest at the International Sickle Cell Day celebrations at the same venue. 

"When we want to come together we are seen as a threat. The rally was stopped because it was going to shine a bright light on the issues being raised. Instead of seeing our meeting as an opportunity it was seen as a threat.

We are still going to insist on having the public meeting and Police has said we can have it. We appear to have a sober DPC but sometimes the orders from above are overbearing," Mao said. 

Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya said whenever the Acholi leaders come together to chart a way forward for a common good, their detractors are not happy.

He added that leadership requires people to be equipped with information in times of high anxiety like what Gulu is experiencing.