Victims of tear gas attacks during UPC rallies in Lango speak

Two people who were tear gassed at Alira primary school in Akura sub-county, Alebtong, during the UPC rally told tndNews’ Nancy Atim about their ordeal.

The rally was violent, with members and supporters of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party clashing with state security officers. The near-fatal encounter occurred when law enforcement used tear gas to disperse crowds gathered to hear their very own son of the soil, Jimmy James Michael Akena, the UPC party president.

This incident has raised serious concerns about the growing use of force in political engagements, as well as the potentially fatal consequences.

On that fateful day, Alira Primary School became the focal point of a political gathering, with UPC party members and supporters convening to discuss party issues and engage in political discourse.

The gathering, dubbed the mobilisation campaign, turned chaotic as the crowd became increasingly agitated, prompting police to intervene and release tear gas to disperse the excited crowd.

The use of tear gas, while intended to control the situation, had disastrous consequences. According to eyewitnesses, the thick fumes spread quickly throughout the schoolyard, causing widespread panic. In the chaos, people scrambled for safety, but the toxic smoke proved too much for some.

Among those affected were two victims, including Moroto County’s current UPC flag bearer, Kennedy Obote, and others whose names have been withheld for privacy reasons.

Obote, who was in the crowd during the mobilisation tour when the teargas was deployed, shared his unpleasant experience, stating that he struggled to breathe as a result of the teargas, coughing violently and appearing disoriented.

While recounting his ordeal to tndNews, he stated that the largest mobilisation tour venue was planned for Alira Primary School in Akura sub-county, Moroto County, Alebtong.

“So after Abia sub-county, we headed to Akura sub-county, arriving there at 2 o’clock. We arrived to a rapture welcome. There was excitement with a big crowd… chanting UPC slogans and showing love to our party president,” Obote narrated.

Shortly after a round of entertainment with UPC songs, Obote encountered police’s action with teargas.

“After a round of entertainment, there were policemen parked and deployed around the field. They were at a distance of about 100 meters away watching. There were two pickup trucks of policemen, watching as we were chanting,” said Obote.

“No sooner had the MC finished introducing the potential candidates and welcomed the party president to the pulpit than we witnessed teargas canisters drop into the crowd. Not one, not two, but I witnessed four teargas canisters drop at different directions and positions within the crowd,” he added.

“So we had to scatter. I personally choked and ended up hitting and falling on another teargas victim, a woman for that matter where I was heading to. The woman and I both fell onto the parked motorcycle and I ended up injuring myself furthermore on the leg. I was choked to death but I struggled and re-collected my breath and then ran away to a water point across the road, about 100 meters away where I found many people helping themselves from the vigorous teargas effect,” Obote narrated.

While at the water point, Obote recalled seeing three other injured people, one with hand bruises, one with knee bruises, and the other gasping for air.

He also stated that, despite the confrontation and bitterness, the crowd reconvened to listen to the party president before the peaceful mobilisation engagement was disrupted by police.

“There was bitterness among the community members, for what they felt was a peaceful engagement with the party president was later disrupted by police. The police who we look to for protection instead were the ones causing the mayhem. Disturbing people who were peacefully and happily assembling,” said Obote.

With the disturbing memories, Obote urged the police to focus on their job of maintaining law and order, including peace, rather than causing trouble in the community.

“I personally would like to appeal to the police and its leadership to respect human rights, not to participate in partisan politics. They belong to all Ugandans and they should protect all Ugandans, not to disrupt other people’s assemblies,” he emphasized.

“Not so long ago, we witnessed the president of Uganda, moving around different districts, gathering huge crowds and there was no single interference. So, that was not wise of them and I condemn it,” he concluded.

Similarly, another victim, whose identity has been withheld, described the situation as sad and life-threatening.

“I wondered what our police in Uganda were doing. What I have realized is that our police do not like peace because our supporters were chanting in peace, and people were very happy,” he narrated.

He also appealed to police to respect the citizens of the country while ensuring that the county receives a better practice of politics.

During their weekly presser held at the UPC party headquarters, Uganda House, UPC spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon, appealed to police not to interfere with their tours at the planned venues, challenging that such brutal and uncalled for actions on their supporters could initiate unnecessary political tensions.

UPC has expressed concern about last-minute cancellations and changes to political gathering venues, citing an incident that occurred on February 22, 2025, in Alebtong district, where attendees were abruptly dispersed and redirected to a different venue more than three kilometres away from the original site.

Faizal Muzeyi, UPC’s head of media and communications, also urged security agencies, particularly the police, to ensure that such disruptions do not occur again, emphasising the importance of protecting political space and allowing leaders to engage freely with voters.

“Our democracy needs to be safeguarded at all times. Political space ought to be expanded to enable political leadership to reach out to grassroots communities and engage directly with the people, who are the voters,” said Muzeyi.

As the UPC presidential mobilization tours continue, all eyes will be on the party’s ability to consolidate its support base ahead of the upcoming general elections.

The UPC president Jimmy Akena, who is also the area Member of Parliament for Lira City East Division, has taken his nationwide mobilization tour to the Teso sub-region as part of the party’s preparation for the 2025/2026 general elections.

According to a statement issued by the party on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Akena will meet with the people of Kaberamaido district on Saturday, March 1, 2025, before moving on to Kalaki district on Sunday, March 2, 2025.