Hundreds of business owners and concerned citizens from Kanungu district have this morning been engaged in running battles with police following a demonstration to show their disappointment with the government for load shedding which citizens say is killing their businesses in the area.
According to the Kanungu district youth counselor Eliab Nasasira Twinomuhwezi who spearheaded the demonstration, police was notified of the intention by residents to stage a peaceful demonstration but wondered why the police turned round to use tear gas canisters and bullets to disperse crowds.
“I wrote to the district police commander informing him that Kanungu people were tired of living in darkness and so we intend to hold a peaceful demonstration to that effect,” Nasasira said.
Despite the Kanungu DPC replying to the youthful councilor okaying the demonstration, it’s still not yet clear why police decided to use forceful means to end the would be a peaceful demonstration.
Efforts to reach Joab Wabwiire the Kanungu District police commander were fruitless as his phones were switched off by press time.
Residents have vowed to continue with their demonstration despite police intervention to disperse them.
“We are fighting for our rights. We pay taxes and so we deserve an equal share of resource allocation. We will not be intimidated. All we need is stable electricity supply like other parts of the country” said Dr Emilly Tumwakire a Kanungu based medical Doctor.
Kanungu is well known for electricity blackouts despite having a Multi-Billion electricity min dam that was launched by President Museveni in 2011.