The
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa has tasked MP on the House’s Human
Rights Committee to visit Dr. Kiiza Besigye at Luzira prison.
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“We
want to know whether Dr Besigye is not been held under conditions that are similar
to other procedures that are used,”he said.
The
committee was been directed by the Speaker to visit Luzira on Friday. It
comprises of members from the ruling NRM, the opposition and some independents.
It is supposed to submit a report about its findings during the next plenary
sitting next Tuesday.
This
follows concerns that Dr. Kiiza Besigye has been denied his rights while detention.
Dr. Besigye has reportedly been denied access to food from his home. He recently a magistrate in Kampala that he might be killed while in detention at Luzira prison.
Tayebwa
made the directive following fears by member of the opposition that Dr. Besigye’s
health condition was worsening. Images of a frail Besigye while appearing before
the General Court Martial at Makindye have been circulating on various social media
platform.
It
is feared that Besigye could be on the hunger strike after refusal of food served
by Uganda Prison Service.
Opposition MPS Speak
Bugiri
Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa told Parliament that Dr. Kiiza Besigye has
been subjected to a cage discussion.
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out…..to Dr. Besigye”///
“What
is happening now in Luzira of subjecting Dr. Besigye to cage discussion? You
are this way, there is a cage, and he is on that side. It is completely alien
in Luzira. So the issue we wanted to understand is whether there is a policy
shift in as far as visiting and interacting with prisoners is concerned.” said
Basalirwa.
Basalirwa
demanded the Internal Affairs Minister explains to parliament statement whether
there has been a policy shift.
“Because
time immemorial, we have been to Luzira, we have been there as prisoners and we
have been interacting with people who come to visit us. Not in a caged form but
in a free environment”
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The
legislators pushed harder on the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among and her deputy,
Thomas Tayebwa to ensure that they push the Executive to observe the rights of individuals.
The
Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi reminded the House about the fact that
the presiding officers persistently turned down calls urging them about how the
rights of the Late Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya were being violated.
“The
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao was not in Parliament
when MPS raised the matters. And he was meant to provide feedback. And they are
all absent.
”The
Attorney General and his Deputy were neither in the House. Ssenyonyi said it
appeared like the ministers were dodging to address the critical issues they
were raising in respect to Dr. Besigye.
”The
Deputy Attorney General was here yesterday. He told us that he had written to parliament
to provide information raised about Dr. Kiiza Besigye. They are both absent”
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Ssenyonyi
said one of the concerns about Dr. Kiiza Besigye was food.
“The last we checked,
they had denied him food from his family. Because he has concerns. And he is entitled
to that. Any day that passes without addressing these issue addressed puts his
life in jeopardy. Are we waiting for that critical time when tables have
turned?” he asked.
Kiira
Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda reminded the Speaker that the
executive has not presented to parliament a statement about the Kiiza Besigye
over two months since they arrested in Kenya.
“Mr.
Speaker. I raised here the issue of Dr. Besigye being kidnapped from Nairobi where
he had gone to attend a book launch of Hon Martha Karua. It was in November.
Two months later, a statement hasn’t been brought” said Ssemujju who went on to
urge MPS from the ruling NRM not to look away whenever issues related to the
violation of human rights are raised on the floor of Parliament.
“I
told you at the beginning of this Parliament that I was in B2 at Murchison where
former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya had been a resident, where the Hon .Jim
Muhwezi had been a resident, the Hon Mike Mukula the Vice Chairman of NRM had
been a resident. You need to understand how President Museveni works. Many of
you one on one you will find yourself in prison” he said
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Ndorwa East MP, Wilfred Niwagaba raising on a point of information told
the house that when Parliament was passing the Public Order Management Act, the
MPS from the ruling NRM thought it was only going to apply to the opposition
politicians. “But as fate would have it, the
architects of that law were the first victims,” he said
Ssemujju noted that the way Dr. Besigye was arrested and continues being
detained is a very serious matter.
The Hon
Mwijukye is raising about the violation of Dr. Besigye’s rights even when he is
in prison”
Energy and
Minerals’ Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa told that the House that she was praying that
Dr. Besigye does not die while on remand.
“I wanted to be on record that we
will pray. God forbid because I have listened to the Leader of the Opposition talking
about supposing he dies. God knows what will happen but my prayer that Dr.
Kiiza Besigye is safe and justice is done” said Nankabirwa
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listened..
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Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s trial”///
On
16 November, Dr Kizza Besigye, Ugandan opposition politician and former
presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political
party, was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya.
They
had reportedly traveled to Kenya to attend a book launch by Kenyan opposition
figure, Martha Karua.
He
resurfaced on 20 November when he was arraigned in a military court in Kampala,
Uganda, where he was charged alongside FDC member Haji Obeid Lutale with
offences relating to security and unlawful possession of firearms and
ammunition. He was remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison where he
continues to be detained.
Former Leader of
the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga used the occasion to further demand that the
Executive updates the parliament about the 18 missing NUP supporters. He said
the time the speaker gave the Ministers of Internal Affairs and that of Defense
about the missing NUP supporters has lapsed.