Police disperses traders with teargas in weekly markets

By Our Reporter

23^rd March 2020

Police have used live bullets to disperse traders in weekly markets in Bududa district.

The traders had gathered in Bushika, Busanza, and Kikholo markets, which operate on Monday each week.

The traders had traveled from various parts of Bugisu to conduct business as usual but were surprised to find heavily armed police who turned them away in line with the president’s directive banning public gatherings as one of the preventive measures against corona virus.

The traders insisted on entering the markets with their merchandise prompting police to fire live bullets to disperse them.

Police spent the better half of the morning in running battles with the traders.

David Agaba, the Officer in charge Bududa Central Police Station says that they decided to turn away the traders to enforce the presidential directive on public gatherings.

However the trader condemned police for beating and arresting them, saying that the police cells where they are taking them are equally not safe in this period.