Four police officers are in hospital after they were allegedly attacked by machete-wielding Imbalu ritual dancers in Manafwa District in eastern Uganda.
The injured officers include ASP Wakasero, Corporal Paul Hasahya, Corporal David Bamenka and Sergeant Tom Okirya, all attached to Kato police post.
The officers had on Saturday been deployed to disperse a group of people who had gathered to launch this year’s Imbalu ceremony at Nabalosi cultural site in Bunabutsale Sub-county, Manafwa District.
Imbalu is a cultural ritual dance performed by the Bamasaba during the circumcision ceremony.
The Elgon regional Police Commander, Wesley Nganizi, confirmed the attack and said police was still hunting for the suspects as investigations continue.
The officers who said they were implementing presidential directives against gatherings in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus reportedly fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the group. This only provoked the dancers who attacked the officers with machetes stones and sticks.
Nganizi said two civilians believed to have been among the gathering were identified after sustaining injuries during the fracass. They two were identified as Rogers Werike and Bernard Shimanya.
