Thomas Tayebwa, the deputy speaker, blasted the security services for what he called the harsh arrest of 11 female lawmakers.On Thursday, April 27, 2023, as they were leaving Parliament to deliver a petition to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the opposition lawmakers were detained.
As they observe International Women’s Day, the members of parliament have voiced their opposition to the ongoing harassment of their colleagues by security forces.
Tayebwa described the arrest as humiliating and haughty, saying that “one would believe the police were detaining terrorists because some of the MPs were bruised while others had their garments ripped.
“Tayebwa encouraged the government to look into the individuals making the arrests and those in charge of such operations, claiming they might not be acting in the government’s best interests.”
The way they conducted the arrests casts a bad image on the government that is aimed at its sabotage, so these people must be working for an invisible hand,” he continued.
The roughness used during the arrests was uncalled for, according to Gen. David Muhoozi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, and he “strongly condemns it.
“Muhoozi disclosed that he had given the legislators unconditional release instructions.
While acknowledging the minister’s thoughts and the directives issued to that end, the leader of the opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, stated that he still requested action against the police officers.
Mpuuga noted that even though they had filed a petition with the Speaker over the issue, that didn’t preclude them from holding a lawful and constitutionally protected peaceful public protest.
He added, “Do these people operate under a different legal regime?” after observing Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a serving army officer, breach the law by holding public rallies while being escorted by ministers unmolested.
Mpuuga asserted that if such acts persisted, they would cause dissent throughout the nation and that, if they did, he would take all legal measures to ensure that Parliament exclusively dealt with issues pertaining to the protection of its citizens’ rights.
The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Whips of the Opposition Parties, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Attorney General were all present at the meeting that the Deputy Speaker called while the House was in session.
The group decided that the policemen who abused the MPs would face consequences, and their behaviour would be highlighted in a report for Women’s Day celebrations.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that Anita Among, the Speaker, had visited the Central Police Station to secure the MPs’ complete release.
Joyce Bagala (Mityana District), Stella Apolot (Ngora District), Florence Kabugho (Kasese District), Betty Ethel Naluyima (Wakiso District), and Joan Acom Alobo (FDC, Soroti City) are among the 11 people who have been detained.
The others are Hanifa Nabukeera (Mukono District), Joan Namutaawe (Masaka District), Juliet Kakande (Masaka City), Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City), Hellen Nakimuli (Kalangala), Manjeri Kyebakutika (Jinja City), and Hellen Nakimuli.On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the MPs petitioned the Speaker about the abuse they had received from security personnel and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) while holding events in their districts.
The most recent occurrence occurred on Friday, April 21, 2023, in the Buvuma Islands and sent the district’s woman MP, Hon. Susan Mugabi, to the hospital.