Police has arrested Busiro East MP, Medard Ssegona and Ndorwa East MP, Wilfred Niwagaba as they tried to force themselves into the premises of Parliament to serve a court injunction to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.
The two legislators were blocked by Parliament police at the main gate of the precincts of Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. They claimed they wanted to serve the Speaker with an injunction challenging the her suspension of six MPs on Tuesday.
Earlier before the arrest, the six suspended MPs in company of their lawyer, Erias Lukwago had also been stopped from entering the Parliament. Some later boarded their vehicle and drove off leaving Niwagaba and Ssegona unrelenting on entering.
Reacting to the arrest of the MPs, the Deputy Attorney General, Mwesigwa Rukutana said it was unlawful to serve the Speaker inside the Parliament.
“You can’t serve the Speaker while she is inside the chambers of Parliament. One can only wait for the Speaker or the Attorney General to get outside of Parliament and then you can serve them the injunction,” Rukutana told journalists outside Parliament.
“Nobody can decline service if it is done the right way. I would willingly sign and even attend court,” he said.
Asked whether it was correct to arrest the two MPs, Rukutana responded saying Police had no choice since the two had defied its orders.
“When Police gives lawful orders and you defy them, what is Police supposed to do?” the Deputy Attorney General said.
He denied having ordered the arrest saying that he only guided on what should be done.
On Monday, during the second reading of the Age Limit Bill, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga suspended six MPs including Makindye West MP, Allan Sewanyana, Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju, Ntungamo Municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga and Kawempe South MP, Mubarak Munyagwa for their indecent conduct.
Others who were suspended from taking part in the afternoon plenary are; Kilak North MP, Anthony Akol and Erute South MP, Jonathan Odur. Chaos had erupted after the opposition MPs insisted that the Speaker was abusing procedure.
Some suggested that the Speaker halts the debate until the East African Court of Justice pronounces itself on the issue, while others demanded for more time to internalize the Bill before the debate begins.
