Minister of Internal Affairs Gen David Muhoozi has expressed regret over the brutal arrest on Thursday morning of 11 female members of parliament.
The MPs were grabbed outside parliament’s main gate as they prepared to march to the Internal Affairs Ministry in protest over the recent arrests of their colleagues.
Addressing the house on the matter, Muhoozi said he was shocked to see the video clips of MPs being manhandled.
“I watched with consternation that clip; that brutality was absolutely not warranted; even so coming on the heels of Buvuma,” he said in reference to last week’s violent arrest of Buvuma Woman MP Susan Mugabi, who had organized a belated women’s day celebrations in her island district.
House Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa revealed that during this morning’s arrest, several MPs were injured as police beat up and used pepper spray on them.
“They were brutally arrested in a very extreme and demeaning way; some are bleeding, others their clothes were torn; (it’s) like they were arresting terrorists,” he said.
“And you shamelessly do it at the gates of parliament! I don’t know if we are safe…if people can be picked at the gate and beaten.”
In his communication, Gen Mohoozi revealed that he had ordered the immediate release of the MPs. He also promised to ensure that the officers involved are brought to book.
“We have passed an instruction for the MPs to be released unconditionally and I am going to follow through on that,” he said.
“I want to promise everyone that action will be taken and we shall inform the house.”
Hon Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition listed the detained MPs as, Joan Namutaawe (Masaka District), Juliet Kakande (Masaka City), Betty Ethel Naluyima (Wakiso), Joyce Bagala (Mityana), Manjeri Kyebakutika (Jinja City), Nyakato Asinansi (Hoima City), Florence Kabugho (Kasese), Stella Isodo Apolot (Ngora), Helen Nakimuli (Kalangala) Hanifah Nabukeera (Mukono) and Joan Acom Alobo (Soroti City).
Mr Mpuuga challenged the minister on the double standards in the police enforcement work, in which only opposition leaders are being arrested for congregating, while those on the ruling party side continue to hold mass meetings freely.
“We want the minister to inform us if we are operating under two legal regimes… I have seen Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba all over the country, a serving miliary officer breaking the law and nobody has touched him,” he said.
“NRM supporters are demonstrating on several matters and no body touched them. Do we have a law for NRM and another for the rest of the country?”
Meanwhile, by publication of this story, Speaker Tayebwa had suspended the house for an urgent meeting between him and the Minister, the LOP, as well as parliamentary whiles on the same matter.