Members of Parliament have criticised the Uganda Police Force over the continued deployment of security personnel at the residence of former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, raising concerns about possible violations of human rights.
The criticism was led by Asuman Basalirwa, the Member of Parliament for Bugiri Municipality, during a meeting between the Public Accounts Committee and the Uganda Police Force convened to review the 2024/25 Auditor General’s report.
Basalirwa questioned the justification given by police that the deployment around Kyagulanyi’s home was meant to provide security, arguing that similar actions had previously been declared unlawful by the courts.
“I don’t know why we should allow the IGP to casually respond to a matter of grave human rights concern. When you camped at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home, we went to court and challenged your deployment and roadblocks, and the courts said police have no right to keep a person incommunicado at their home, because a home is not a detention facility,” Basalirwa said.
He added that the courts had also ruled against the use of house arrest as a security measure.
“They even told you that house arrest is equally illegal. So, how do you camp at somebody’s home, and you are violating the right of ingress and egress? That’s the entry and exit,” he said.
Basalirwa also questioned the police’s explanation that the deployment was meant to protect Kyagulanyi’s residence, pointing to previous incidents where security agencies allegedly failed to intervene.
Legislators noted that police had previously stood by when soldiers vandalised the home and reportedly assaulted Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbra Itungo Kyagulanyi.
Police officials present at the meeting were led by Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ochaya, who appeared before the committee to respond to queries arising from the Auditor General’s findings.
The matter adds to ongoing scrutiny by Parliament over the conduct of security agencies and the protection of civil liberties in Uganda.
