The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged Members of Parliament to leave issues concerning soldiers' discipline to the UPDF.
His remarks followed a request by Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda who demanded government's response to recent utterances made by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on military rule.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter), Muhoozi said security forces would never allow a civilian to lead Uganda after President Museveni leaves power.
"No civilian will lead Uganda after President Museveni. The security forces will not allow it. The next leader will be a soldier or policeman," Gen Muhoozi posted.
During Tuesday plenary, Ssemujju wondered why UPDF officers notably Muhoozi, continued to make partisan statements on social media and the government looked on.
“I want to draw you to the utterances made by Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is a Chief of Defence Forces himself, first that after his father the President, no civilian will be President in Uganda. Two, that as CDF, he has now endorsed the NRM Chairman for the next Presidential elections," Ssemujju said.
The legislator added, "These two issues, go against the core principles of this Constitution that a CDF, a military officer is endorsing the candidate of a political party. But he is also issuing threats that no civilian will be President after his father, that the Army will not allow."
Ssemujju, tasked the army representatives in the Parliament to use their power to demand government's response on what he said is overthrowing of the constitutional order by Muhoozi.
"Using your power, can you ask Government to explain why a particular UPDF officer can be allowed to overthrow the constitution, announce which candidate to support and issue threats to civilians that the Army will not allow a civilian to be President in Uganda?” he tasked.
However, chairing the plenary, the Deputy Speaker guided that Parliament is not the right forum to discuss issues regarding military officers' discipline.
Tayebwa asserted that the UPDF has established organs which can handle the discipline of their officers, urging MPs to leave the issues of soldiers to the UPDF.
"Let us handle our business here and the UPDF will handle theirs," Tayebwa said.
The Deputy Speaker further tasked the MPs accusing Muhoozi of making partisan statements on social media table evidence before Parliament, claiming that he is not on social media and has not come across the statements that are being attributed to the CDF.
“Some of us aren’t on social media, where are these statements? Because it seems there are things being referred to, there are statements that some people read some of us haven’t read," Tayebwa said.
"If one could lay it on table, it could help some of us. I am just asking honestly because if we take it that everyone is on social media, waiting for statements, so if we can lay on table."
Muhoozi's remarks on not allowing civilian rule have rattled many opposition figures and stirred political debate.