Police are currently investigating an incident involving assault and threats of violence between John Lematia, the Ayivu West Constituency Member of Parliament, and James Ariko, a DSTV technician in Arua city.
The altercation allegedly occurred on Easter Sunday at Dream Land Hotel in Kuluva trading center along the Arua-Nebbi highway.
The confrontation allegedly erupted over a woman named Faith Eyotaru, a 25-year-old relationship officer at Victoria University Kampala.
The conflict started when Lematia arrived at Dreamland Hotel with Eyotaru for a swim, only to encounter James Ariko, who was at the hotel.
Upon seeing Lematia and Eyotaru, Ariko confronted the legislator, with both men claiming to have a relationship with the woman.
The situation escalated into a physical altercation, which was eventually diffused by hotel staff.
Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Region Police spokesperson, confirmed that the incident took place around 3:00 pm on Sunday.
After the scuffle, Ariko and Lematia proceeded to the Arua City Central Police Division to report the incident.
They were then directed to Arua District police headquarters at Odumi in Vurra, where they respectively filed cases of assault and threatening violence.
“By the time DPC and the team arrived at Dreamland hotel, they found when both men had gone to register their complaints at Arua City Central Division, from where they were directed to go and report at Arua District police headquarters at Odumi in Vurra”, Angucia said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations by the police suggest that Eyotaru was previously in a long-term relationship with Ariko, but they allegedly separated last year.
Subsequently, Eyotaru entered into a relationship with Lematia, who reportedly helped her secure the position of Relationship Officer at Victoria University in Kampala.
According to a reliable source, during a meeting with the police, Eyotaru stated that her romantic involvement with Ariko had ended, and she is now in a relationship with Lematia.
When contacted for comment, Lematia declined, stating that he was attending a function in Adumi.
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