Forum for Democratic Change-FDC members and supporters are facing stiff resistance from Police in Soroti, ahead of the manifesto launch slated for Monday.
Police anti-riot tanks, patrol vehicles with personnel have strategically been deployed to control movements around Soroti sports ground, the venue of the launch.
FDC presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat is on transit to Soroti but is making stopovers on his way. He has passed Jinja city where he held a procession and was teargassed away.
Amuriat is expected to make another stopover in Mbale before finally heading to Soroti.
Along Mbale Road-Soroti road, Police have put roadblocks to regulate traffic on the road.
Also, soldiers have also taken over the Awoja Police checkpoint which is a border between Soroti and Ngora districts.
However, Amuriat’s manifesto launch hangs in balance after the police have deployed heavily at the venue in Soroti sports ground to block any activity from going on.
The police claim the venue is not a fairground because it is close to a COVID -19 health facility.
Soroti DPC, David Tsiamusangira the man behind the operation, claims patients admitted at the hospital risk suffocating as a result of teargas which is most likely to blow up due to violence.
Jane Acen, the Chairperson of FDC in Soroti District says the deployment cannot scare them, calling her supporters to show up in big numbers.
”So I don’t want anybody to fear, those security people are our own people and the function is on, we are going to go on as planned” Acen said
Meanwhile, FDC diehards in Soroti are insistent on staying despite anything, they say it is impossible for them to chicken out especially at a time they are receiving their own Son from Teso.
