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Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kitgum police have finally released a private ambulance belonging to the Kitgum Municipality Member of Parliament, Denis Onekalit Amere.
The ambulance, registration number UAJ 962Y was released on Monday from Kitgum central police station where it had been parked for the past ten days. Police led by acting Kitgum District Police Commander Martin Abigaba, impounded the ambulance on June 11, as Amere attempted to present it to his constituents to handle health emergencies and referrals.
He was also consequently arrested and briefly detained at Gulu Central Police station on charges of holding an illegal procession and engaging in a negligent act likely to cause the spread of COVID-19. Amere denied all the charges. Now, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson David Ongom Mudong told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the ambulance was released since the legislator’s bond has been extended due to the closure of the courts.
Amere reported to Gulu Central Police station on Monday morning, a week after his release and was expected to appear in court later in the day. Mudong says since the courts are not sitting at the moment because of the covid-19 situation, they found it unworthy to keep the ambulance and instead had to hand it back to its owner.
He notes that the decision to impound the ambulance was purely meant for safe custody, adding that it had no connection to the legislator’s arrest. Morris Santos Oyo, the Kitgum District Forum for Democratic Change party chairperson who received the ambulance from police on Monday said the ambulance will now start performing its intended duties for the community.
Amere wasn’t allowed to witness the release of his ambulance from police custody. He however told URN in a telephone interview that the move taken by the police to impound his ambulance was politically motivated. He said now that the ambulance has been released, his health committee will meet and finalize plans of its operation before it commences services to the community on Wednesday.
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