JINJA - Violence on Friday morning disrupted a workshop on national dialogue here - organised by the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) at the Crested Crane Hotel. The workshop, which began at around 2 p.m., close to 6 hours after it was meant to have opened, was supposed to be addressed by among others, former deputy premier Eriya Kategaya. He had been slated to present a paper on �Democratization, Constitutionalism and the Road Map to 2006: Hopes, fears and Challenges�, but did not. PAFO spokesperson, Proscovia Salaamu Musumba (Bugabula South MP) said that Kategaya did not show up because they had received prior information that there would be violence. Trouble began when scores of unidentified people were barred from entering the conference hall for lack of invitation cards. They attempted to enter the hall, but with little success. The rowdy group kept on chanting the �no change� slogan and had banners with several inscriptions including �PAFO Liars!�, �Museveni For Ever�, �No room for Malwa Group�. Others carried President Yoweri Museveni�s campaign posters dating back to the 2001 presidential elections. In the ensuing fracas, an unidentified person was beaten up badly and left bleeding before he was rushed out to an unknown destination. The rowdy group also attempted to rough up Ms Musumba and MPs, Harry Kasigwa, Ben Wacha and Abdul Katuntu. The group was apparently under the command of the LC-III chairperson of Mafubira sub-county, Mr Richard Gulume and his Mpummudde Kimaka division counterpart, Mr Michael Kasedde. Bugweri MP Abdul Katuntu, had to rush to the Jinja Police station from where he got policemen; who later escorted PAFO members out of the hotel premises. They declared war on PAFO and its leaders, adding that a committee had been formed to fight PAFO and campaign for a 3rd term for President Museveni.
Violence disrupts PAFO meet
By Isaac Mufumba
March 7, 2004
Local leaders who included Iganga LC-V chairman, Asuman Kyafu and his Bugiri counterpart, Siraji Lyavala later addressed a rally to celebrate �victory� over PAFO.
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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