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Opposition
Members of Parliament on Tuesday renewed their demand for the release of
incarcerated MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana.
The call followed a statement by Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, marking
one year of the Eleventh
Parliament. Members of the Eleventh Parliament
were sworn in on May 17, 2021.
Among asked
MPs to provide accountability to their constituents in the first year of
their term.
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However Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said that the
accountability sought by the Speaker only applies to the MPs attending Parliament.
He wondered how Ssegirinya, the Kawempe North MP, and Ssewanyana, representing Makindye
East would account to the voters given that they have spent eight months in
prison.
Ssemujju
questioned why the two MPs had not been granted bail.
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Asuman Basalirwa, the Bugiri Municipality MP also questioned Attorney
General Kiryowa Kiwanuka about arrests by security personnel before concluding
investigations.
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Kiwanuka said that he is constrained to discuss the issue because the matter
is already in court. The Speaker directed Kiwanuka to present a report on the status of cases against the
incarcerated MPs.
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Ssegirinya
and Ssewanyana are facing several charges including murder, attempted murder,
aiding, and abetting terrorism. They have severally been denied bail by the
courts and in November 2021, the Chief Magistrates Court in Masaka committed
the two to the High Court for trial.
They were
arrested on September 7, 2021, and are accused of masterminding the machete
killings in Masaka sub-region last year. They have since been on remand at Kigo
Prison facilities in Wakiso district.
MPs also tasked the Attorney General to explain the preventive arrest of former
Presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye at his home.
Atkins Katusabe wondered whether security forces still hold the Uganda
Constitution high. He described the arrest of Besigye as inhumane and
degrading.
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The Speaker criticized the manner in which Besigye was arrested saying that it
was brutal and incorrect. He asked the Attorney General to follow up on the issue
with security organs to ensure that human rights are respected at all times.
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Dr. Besigye was arrested on Thursday last week following his attempt to stage a walk-to-work protest in regard to the high commodity prices. He is currently
under house arrest in Kasangati.
