Opposition MPs Shun Plenary, Demand Assurance on Parliament Security 

Opposition MPs have given the Office of the Speaker of Parliament up to tomorrow, Wednesday to ensure that matters pertaining to security of legislators within the precincts of Parliament are discussed first before any other business can proceed.

Opposition MPs shuned plenary sitting on Tuesday after two months of recess since the MPs embarked on consultations in their respective constituencies on the constitutional amendment to lift the Presidential age limit.

Addressing the press about the matter, the opposition chief whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda noted that they [opposition] feel insecure to sit in the plenary chambers that were invaded by Special Forces Command (SFC) on September 27.

Ssemujju said that they need assurance that on their security before they can deliberate other issues concerning Ugandans.

He gave notice to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga that if by tomorrow they are not given opportunity to discuss security matters first, they will improvise other means to ensure their voices are heard.

Lwemiyaga county MP Theodore Sekikubo on his part said that the security of legislators should not be considered partisan since all Parliamentarians need to operate in secure environment.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanya who presided over Tuesday’s sitting in his communication to house, restrained MPs from discussing constitutional amendment Bills (for land and Presidential age limit) on floor of Parliament.

He advised those who have concerns to address them to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee that is handling both.

The concern by opposition legislators on the security at Parliament comes days after some of them including Leader of Opposition Winfred Kiiza, Ssemujju Nganda and Betty Nambooze petitioned the East Africa Court of Justice contesting the “unlawful”, “brutal” and “violent” attack on Parliament by security operatives.

In their petition, the legislators said that by inviting the SFC operatives “to wreck havoc” in Parliament, Speaker Kadaga fell short of the legal expectations of a Speaker as an accountable, democratic, law abiding and transparent leader.

They further say that the arbitrary treatment that the legislators were subjected to violated their fundamental rights.