Kampala – The deputy speaker of parliament Thomas Tayebwa has condemned the manner in which 11 female legislators were arrested by police at parliament gate on Thursday morning.
In his communication to the house on Thursday afternoon, Tayebwa called for an investigation of the police officers whom he says could be working for an invisible hand aiming at overthrowing the government.
“My question is who are these people working for? Because government needs to reflect and find out who is behind them. I don’t think these are people who are working to protect government or its image, they must be working for an invisible hand that aims to bring down the government because I don’t see any single justification for these actions,” said Tayebwa.
Responding to the Deputy Speakers’ communication, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi says the brutal treatment of the female MPs was unwarranted and has told Parliament that the Ministry passed the instruction to have the 11 MPs released unconditionally.
The 11 opposition women MPs were arrested attempting to match to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to deliver a petition against continued harassment of their colleagues by security agencies.
The arrested legislators include Joyce Bagala (Mityana woman) Christine Kaaya Nakimwero (Kiboga District), Florence Kabugho (Kasese district), Betty Ethel Naluyima (Wakiso), Joan Acom Alobo (Soroti City), Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City) and Suzan Mugabi (Buvuma). The others are Hellen Nakimuli (Kalangala), Joan Kakande, Manjeri Kyebakutika (Jinja City), Hanifa Nabukeera (Mukono) and Joan Namutaawe(Masaka).
According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan Police, the MPs were arrested after they sat in the middle of the road near parliament obstructing oncoming traffic for an hour.
He said in the scuffle that ensued during the arrest, one female police officer sustained injuries.
“We got information that they had camped outside parliament and we decided to come in and in the process of the arrest, one of our officers PC Mutoni sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment at our clinic here at CPS,” says Owoyesigyire
Owoyesigyire says the MPs are being detained at Central Police Station.
The female legislators accuse the police and other security agencies of frustrating the activities of opposition leaders.
An event organised by female opposition Forum for Democratic Change party MPs Joan Alobo and Anna Adeke Ebaju on April 14 in Soroti City to celebrate International Women’s Day was blocked by the police.
A week after, Buvuma lawmaker, Suzan Nakaziba Mugabi, and four other Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party members were arrested on April 21 at Kyanja Village, Bwema Sub County in Buvuma District.
Police dispersed a crowd that had gathered for the district’s belated Women’s Day celebrations saying they had not sought police clearance.
MP Nakaziba was injured in an alleged assault by the police and army operatives.
Following the incident, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martins Okoth Ochola, ordered the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) to investigate the matter. Eleven officers accused of manhandling the MP and her supporters were suspended and summoned to report to the PSU headquarters for further investigations.
