Government has directed Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to desist from interfering in the activities of female members of parliament, especially those sanctioned by government.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Hon Rukia Nakadama on Thursday condemned the DRCs and security officials for blocking several district woman MPs from holding Women’s Day celebrations in their constituencies.
Nakadama also vowed to send communication to the Ministers for Presidency and Internal Affairs to put an end to these acts.
The Deputy Premier was speaking in Parliament in response to the matter raised by former Junior Health Minister Sarah Opendi.
Opendi, who is also the chairwoman of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) told the house that since last year, RDCs and police had blocked women’s day celebration organized by opposition MPs in over 4 districts.
“A woman MP is number 17 on the order of precedent and an RDC is number 33. Why should women MPs continue to be MPs when they are being harassed and can’t exercise their rights?” Opendi remarked.
Hon Stella Opolot Isido, the woman MP for Ngora district (FDC) said she had her women’s day celebrations cancelled last year and this year by the RDC, one John Stephen Ekoom.
“Last year Mr Ekoom blocked our event at the 9:30pm when it was happening the following morning; there was no explanation, nor compensation,” she said.
Late last month, ugly scenes played out in Mityana district as police used teargas to block the women’s day celebration organized by the district Woman MP, Hon Joyce Bagala.
Other Woman MPs who have had their women’s day events cancelled include Hon Florence Kabugho (FDC) of Kasese District and Hon Brenda Nabukenya (NUP) of Luwero.
Hon Opendi had requested for the Ministers of Presidency and Internal Affairs to be summoned to parliament to explain these acts.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Thomas Tayebwa however, asked the Deputy Premier Nakadama to summon the ministers for a meeting with the members of UWOPA to have the matter ironed out.
“Arrange a meeting between those ministers and UWOPA so that the affected MPs are part of the meeting, and they are given an explanation,” Tayebwa instructed.
“If they don’t want the MPs to hold such events, they should be told instead of wasting their resources.”