Esther Mukyala
3 July 2008
Kampala — GUNFIRE rocked Mbiko trading centre in Njeru town, Mukono district on Wednesday when the Police dispersed long distance truck drivers who were demonstrating.
They parked their vehicles in the middle of the Jinja-Kampala highway, causing a traffic jam that lasted over five hours.
The drivers accused the Jinja district Police chief, Chris Barugahare, of deploying security officials to deregister their vehicles.
The soldiers, policemen and constables allegedly plucked off the number plates of 28 vehicles that were parked at Mbiko.
The Police commissioner for traffic, Stephen Kansiima, who was also trapped in the jam, intervened and calmed the situation.
He warned the rioters against parking on both sides of the road and instructed Njeru town council to gazette a parking yard for them.
"We can't allow trailers to crowd here because it might result into siphoning of fuel and fire outbreaks," Kansiima explained.
He also cautioned the drivers against parking at fuel stations, warning that vehicles found there would be deregistered.
The south-eastern regional Police commander, Christopher Kubai, noted that the East African traffic laws prohibited drivers from parking on highways.
"The Police are charged with the responsibility of getting rid of trailers parked illegally," he said.
However, many of the residents, mainly proprietors of bars and lodges, were opposed to the relocation of the trucks, saying the drivers were their major clients.
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