Gun fire and tear gas rocked Kanungu on Thursday as police was engaged in running battles with rioting traders and locals who were protesting against constant power outages in the area.
Angry traders and locals carrying placards stormed Kanungu district headquarters before they matched to the office of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Kanungu branch demanding answers on the power cuts.
The angry traders who demanded shut down of the UEDCL offices say they have been experiencing power blackouts for the last 4 months, which affected their businesses.
The traders then started running after the workers at UEDCL and destroying office property which prompted anti-riot police to disperse them by firing teargas and live bullets in the air.
Eliab Twinomuhwezi, the district youth Councillor who spearheaded the demonstration says police was notified on their intention to stage a peaceful demonstration, wondering why the force turned against them instead.
Naome Biira, one of the protesters says power comes twice in week and only for about two hours in the morning and later shortly in the evening.
Godfery Karabenda, the mayor Kanungu town council says that the locals decided to demonstrate because no reasons were being given for the power cuts.
Kanungu is well known for electricity blackouts despite having a Multi-Billion electricity mini dam that was launched by President Museveni in 2011.