The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs has travelled to Kasese and Bundibugyo districts to investigate the causes of recent violence in which tens of people were killed.
Parliament sitting last month tasked the Committee to also inquire into the conduct of police and other security agencies handling security situations in the Rwenzori sub region.
The decision followed disagreements amongst legislators on the cause of violence; matters that were not saved by the Statement made by Internal Affairs Minister Hon. Rose Akol, who said that that youths suspected to be royal guards of the Rwenzururu Kingdom had attempted to attack police posts and disarm police officers
“The best way to handle this is by letting an institution of the House investigate issues about Kasese,” the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah said during the sitting.
The Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs chaired by Hon. Benny Namugwanya (NRM, Mubende district) oversees the activities and programmes of the Ministries of Defence and Internal Affairs; the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service.
Parliament has also tasked the Committee to establish the parties involved into the conflicts that led to the killings and make recommendations on how to end conflicts and restore peace in the region before reporting back to the House.
The Committee is scheduled to meet the Obusinga cultural leadership, Rwenzururu Veterans Association, district security committee and leadership as well as area MPs including those newly elected in Kasese district.
In Bundibugyo, they are scheduled to meet the Obundingya bwa Bwamba, Bamba and Bakonjo and local leaders.