By Leonard Kamugisha Akida
The Democratic Party has strongly condemned abduction of the party’s chairman for Pader District and Pader Town Council Mayor, His Worship Fearless Kilama Wodacholi.
Mayor Kilama was reportedly allegedly abducted this morning (January 16,2025) from the premises of the High Court in Kitgum, where he had gone to attend a hearing.
The case dates back to 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when the Mayor and 32 others were charged for their alleged involvement in protests against what they described as illegal actions by security forces. According to reports, Mayor Kilama and others still at large are protesting the forced eviction of residents outside curfew hours.
The minister of justice and constitutional affairs also the DP President, Norbert Mao described the abduction as illegal and an affront to the rule of law.
They criticized the charges against Kilama as an abuse of the judicial process, pointing out that the Mayor had only sought to calm tensions during a meeting in Pader. Mao further retaliated President Museveni’s directive to review and withdraw all cases stemming from the lockdown period, noting the harsh conditions faced by Ugandans, particularly the poor, at that time.
In addition, Democratic Party demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mayor Kilama, and stated that party officials, including DP Vice Chairman Simon Opoka and Uganda Young Democrats President Ismail Kiirya, are reportedly on the ground monitoring the situation.
“We call for the immediate release of Mayor Kilama by those who are holding him in illegal detention,” Mao said.
