Prime
Age limit:Cecilia Ogwal accuses state of plotting to kill her
A police officer consoles Ms Ogwal who was hospitalised after police used tear gas to disperse a rally she was attending on Tuesday. Photo by Frank Jean Okot
DOKOLO/LIRA- Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Cecilia Atim Ogwal, has not yet filed a case against senior police officers whom she accused of attempting to murder her during a consultation meeting in Lira Town on Tuesday.
Ms Ogwal alleges that she was assaulted by Lira District Police Commander at Adyel Division headquarters as she joined other legislators to consult voters on the proposal to remove the age limit from the Constitution.
According to Ms Ogwal, the police acted on orders from “Kampala with intent to murder her.”
“Of course, he (the DPC) shot a canister of teargas directly on the ground where I had collapsed and few people tried to pull me out of that place and started pouring water on me. I started to regain some conscious but I could not remember other things, I had a completely blacked out,” Ms Ogwal said.
The MP said prior to the meeting, she had a “high level engagement” with the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and the minister of Internal Affairs Gen Jeje Odongo, adding that “the people of Lango feel betrayed after the incident.”
“It is very shameful and disgraceful but I hope somebody would have to apologise to the people of Lango because we Members of Parliament are still under obligation to consult them and get their views on the proposal to remove the age limit and the planned compulsory acquisition of land by government,” Ms Ogwal said.
North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, Mr David Ongom Mudong, however, dismissed Ms Ogwal’s claims as untrue.
He advised Ms Ogwal and other aggrieved persons to lodge a formal complaint at the police for action.
“Those who feel they were mistreated during the meeting should come forward and file a case against the police, we shall investigate it,” Mr Ongom said.
But Ms Ogwal said they would run to court for remedies following the continued harassment, assault and intimidation perpetrated by the State against those opposed to the removal of age limit from the Constitution.
On Tuesday, Otuke Woman MP Silvia Akello and Ms Ogwal were hospitalised at Lira Medical Centre after inhaling teargas fired by police to disperse hundreds of people who gathered to consult with the politicians.
The two had joined their Lira counterpart, Ms Joy Atim Ongom, who had mobilised people to consult them on the proposed amendment of the constitution to remove Article 102 (b) which caps presidential age limit at not less than 35 or above 75.
Ms Ogwal and Ms Akello had planned to hold a joint meeting with other MPs from all constituencies in Lango sub region.
