Opposition legislators have stormed out of parliament to protest the re-arrest of Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya and his Makindye West counterpart, Allan Ssewanyana.
The legislator walked out shortly after the house resumed yesterday afternoon after a ten minute’s adjournment by the speaker Jacob Oulanyah to allow the government to present a statement on the re-arrest of the two legislators.
The joint security task force re-arrested Ssegirinya on Monday at Kigo Prison shortly after being released on bail by Kampala High Court.
Yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja explained that Ssewanyana was interrogated on Monday by the Criminal Investigations Directorate in the presence of his lawyers, adding that Ssegirinya would also be interrogated later and record his statement.
On the failure by the government to notify the Speaker about the re-arrest of the legislators, Nabbanja said that this information will soon reach the Speaker’s office.
Her response did not go well with Buhweju County MP, Francis Mwijukye who said that Parliament cannot proceed given the unclear absence of its members.
Ssekikubo Theodore, the Lwemiyaga County MP also questioned whether the government side found it unnecessary to inform the Speaker before re-arresting the MPs.
Oulanyah also wondered why the government did not inform his office as required by law.
Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka said that it was an error on the part of the government not to inform the Office of the Speaker but everything is being done to make sure that the legislators are treated within the law.
Kiryowa said the two colleagues are going to be presented in court, adding that they can go back as many times as the offences they commit.
Kiryowa’s statement enraged opposition MPs where the Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga said that the statement by the Attorney General was very disturbing since Ssewanyana has not been produced in court in the last 48 hours.
Mpuuga said that he was constrained to continue with the Sitting and immediately led the opposition MPs out of the Chambers in protest.
Oulanyah said that it is part of the rights of any MP to signify dissent but hastened to add that he does not approve of the idea of changing the dress code of the House.
He said that there are things that should be avoided since the Constitution is clear about processes and procedures.
Nabbanja said that the government was going to look for a way forward regarding the matter which prompted speaker Oulanyah to adjourn the House to today.
