Ugandans have been advised to be lawful or risk being shot at by security officers.
The advice was sounded by Gen. Elly Tumwine the security minister during the weekly cabinet decisions media briefing at the Uganda media centre.
The minister was commenting on the unfortunate events that erupted in Kampala following the August 13th battles that left one person dead.
Gen. Tumwiine explained that a firearm can be used against people who want to cause violence or those resisting arrest.
“If your actions are going to cause violence against others, a forearm can be used. If you resist arrest, it can be used. If you try to escape, firearms can also be used. So let us be lawful” the general advised.
At the same media briefing, the health minister Jane Ruth Aceng explained that Hon. Francis Zaake’s travel was delayed due to his failure to answer questions posed by the medical board. She however says Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert was cooperative and that is why his travel was sped up.
She added that until last Saturday, Hon. Zaake had declined to consent to medical examinations. It took the intervention of his lawyers for the Mityana Municipality MP to accept. The MP had allegedly seen an intern doctor who does not have enough expertise to refer a patient for treatment abroad.
“Zaake was seen by an intern and a family physician. It must have been a specialist. Internationally we must be seen as a serious country so we could not let him go on that basis. He had not sought permission from police and was refused to leave the country” the minister added.
Minister Aceng also revealed that the two MPs did not at any point request for medical referrals.
“A senior consultant is supposed to write a letter requesting the board for a client to be referred abroad. We have specialists to handle the cases the members of parliament that went abroad. We are not ashamed about our hospitals, we have all requirements for specialized treatment of the MPs that left” she added.
She insisted that the MPs declined to be touched and the medical doctors could not insist. “When you decline to be touched, we don’t touch you. We only explain.
The examination was at the request of police and it was given to them. The members of parliament left on their won. The report from Rubaga Hospital was lacking we cannot use an intern’s report” Aceng added.
Kyadondo East MP Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine and his Mityana municipality counterpart Francis Zaake were allegedly tortured by security officers during arrests in Arua. They are now receiving treatment in the US and India respectively. They also face charges of treason.
