Deputy Speaker Oulanyah warns errant MPs not to expect parliament to protect them

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has warned that parliament is not a haven for criminals as the house reopens after two weeks recess.

Oulanyah was responding to complaints raised by several opposition politicians about what they consider continued harassment by police and other security agents.

Rukungiri municipality Member of Parliament Roland Mugume (FDC) decried the arrest of opposition politicians. He said, "This has affected operations by registered political parties. Why are they arresting opposition candidates when NRM guys are allowed to vouch for their NRM sole candidature in peace?"

Mugume claimed, "We have learnt that police and the army are under instruction to disrupt any political gathering of the opposition."

He pointed out how former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye and People Power movement leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine have repeatedly been arrested in the last two weeks.

Kyagulanyi is currently unable to leave his Magere home as it is surrounded by police and the army. Kyagulanyi was blocked from holding an Easter Monday concert at One Love Beach, Busabala, along Entebbe road by the police. Police said he had not followed the acceptable security guidelines.

Mukono MP Betty Nambooze told the house that the people of Kyadondo East were currently not being represented because their MP Kyagulanyi was under house arrest.

This was collaborated by Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi (DP). Kivumbi, who is also the opposition shadow minister for Internal Affairs, said, "I went to his home and tried to have him out police told him, he either goes back in or faces arrests. I couldn’t allow him to go through this. I told him to go back in."

Nambooze said, "We have become political prisoners. I was in Kawunga remand prison in Mukono and found over 50 prisoners arrested because they were clad in red attire. Has wearing red become a crime?"

Speaker Oulanyah, however, replied the legislators that, "Parliament is not a haven or a place of safety for criminal conduct; if you commit a crime outside Parliament, the privileges and immunities of Parliament cannot protect you. Parliament is not a haven for criminality.”

Oulanyah then went on to ask the Minister for Internal Affairs to respond to the legislators complaints.  First Deputy premier, Gen (rtd) Moses Ali, said he had not received a report from police regarding Mr Kyagulanyi or any Opposition leader to be suffering at the hands of police. He promised that he would pick interest and follow up the matter and where possible, have the politicians released.

Edited by David Tumusiime