By Annet Nakanwagi,
KAMPALA:
The opposition members of parliament led by their leader, Mathias Mpuuga have on Tuesday afternoon walked out of parliament in protest against the re-arrest of fellow legislators Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana.
Kawempe North’s Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana(Makindye West) who had just been granted bail by court were re-arrested by security travelling in referred drone vehicles outside the Kigo prison premises.
This was after parliament demanded the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka to explain the re-arrest of the legislators.
In response, the Attorney General told parliament that the two legislators will soon be arraigned in courts of law but insisted that they can be re-arrested as many times as the offences they commit.
“They can go back as many times as the offences they commit,” Kiwanuka said.
The strong statement by the AG enrage opposition legislators led by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga who then stormed out of parliament.
Mpuuga said he found the statement by the Attorney General disturbing and legally scandalous and consequently withdrew his team from the debate he said considered vulgar.
On Monday, Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said the re-arrest of the two legislators was connected to fresh treason charges that they are supposed to answer.
However, mixed reactions arosed after the legislator’s lawyer Erias Lukwago said moments later that he had talked to the Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana who was at SIU Kireka.
According to Lukwago, the MP had been transferred to SIU Kireka to record a statement on the new charges of murder.
“Have finally managed to speak to Hon. Allan Ssewanyana at the office of the I.O Det. ASP Matanzima at SIU Kireka, where he had been transferred for purposes of recording a new statement following his abduction and detention incommunicado,” Counsel Lukwago said.
In related stories, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanya has this afternoon suspended the House for 15 minutes to allow the Government Chief Whip get the minister of internal affairs explain about the re-arrests of two opposition MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya.
This followed concerns raised by several legislators including the Leader of Opposition in parliament Mathius Mpuuga, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Theodore Ssekikubo over the re-arresting of two fellow legislators Allan Ssewanyana and Mohamed Ssegirinya.
The legislators said it was time for parliament to stand up to defend the constitution and not stay silent when such rights violations are metted against Ugandans
In response the speaker Jacob Oulanya demanded for an explanation on the rearrest of the two legislators noting that unless it is given, parliament would not proceed
