Gulu in flames, under heavy gunfire as Mao is arrested
Posted Thursday, April 14 2011 at 19:18
Residents of Gulu town protesting the arrest of district chairman Norbert Mao over the ‘walk-to-work’ demonstration have come under heavy gunfire and tear-gassing by both soldiers and police.
The police are reported to be rounding the town with Mao in their hold, unsure where to take him into safe custody as crowd pursues them to have him released.
Fuel stations and shops are hurriedly closed with owners, and or operators, fearing probable damage by infuriated dwellers.
Our Northern Uganda Bureau Chief, James Eriku, says soldiers summoned from the nearby UPDF 4thDivision Headquarters are driving in armoured cars, shooting randomly.
Residents are fighting back by pelting the security operatives with stones, and are burning car tyres and any combustible material on the roads to halt the military’s advance.
Motorised traffic has been paralysed in the town and various parts are inaccessible.
The town is reported to be in a power blackout, and the shooting is “severe”, Mr Eriku says.
Many people are variously injured in the sporadic violence.
HEY EVERYONE! GULU NEEDS OUR PRAYERS RIGHT NOW! MY SISTER IS IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS! SHE IS SAFE, BUT IF WE DON'T INTERCEDE, IT COULD GET WORSE! I will keep you updated on how things are going.
Oh, man. Jesus break in! Praying for protection for Gulu and for your sister, Leah =) God will protect her!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your prayers for all of us here in Gulu. Power is just now coming back and things have calmed down, but keep praying because it is an unstable time with prices so high and all the protests. God bless you all!
ReplyDeleteLeah's sister, Naomi