The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has criticised government over the arrest of three Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
Hon. Hassan Kirumira, (Katikamu County South), Hon. Charles Tebandeke (Bbale County) and Hon. Francis Zaake, (Mityana Municipality) together with several members of the NUP party were arrested on Monday, 22 July 2024.
They were detained on allegations of holding an unlawful assembly.
Ssenyonyi, who raised the matter during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, said that the arrest was unwarranted since the MPs were on their way to the NUP party headquarters in Makerere, Kavule, to attend a weekly press conference.
“It would be a good thing for government to help us understand the seeming double standards, because several other political entities keep operating but for some, it does not get to happen,” Ssenyonyi said.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanjja explained that the MPs were arrested in accordance with Articles, 23 and 4(b) of the constitution; protection of personal liberty and restraint, upon reasonable suspicion; respectively.
“Government is charged with the responsibility to take care of security of persons and their property, it is under that, that some of our colleagues are under detention. They will go through the legal process and if found innocent, they will be released,” Nabbanja said.
Hon. Gorreth Namugga (NUP, Mawogola County South), however said that the heavy deployment at the NUP party headquarters should have been used to keep peace to allow the press conference to go on.
“I was mistreated; I agree with the submission of the Prime Minister that the Police detected crime, but they would have been the same force used to keep peace. You would have guided us well and kept us in the house,” said Namugga.
Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, guided that commenting on matters before court is sub-judice and a disservice to the suspects.
“Whereas the opposition may look at everything with suspicion, let us hold the Police accountable but allow them to work,” he said.
