Speaker Anita Among Rescues Opposition Women MPs From Detention At CPS
The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has come to the rescue of 11 opposition women MPs who had been arrested by police on Thursday morning.
The 11 legislators were arrested and detained at the Central police station(CPS) in Kampala while they protested the continued harassment of their colleagues by security agencies.
Following the speaker’s visit to CPS, the legislators were immediately released after a brief talk with the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Stephen Tanui.
The MPs included Joyce Bagala(Mityana woman MP) Kaaya Christine Nakimwero (Kiboga District), Florence Kabugho (Kasese district ), Betty Ethel Naluyima (Wakiso), Joan Acom Alobo (Soroti City) and Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City) and Suzan Mugabi(Buvuma).
Others are Hellen Nakimuli(Kalangala), Joan Kakande, Manjeri Kyebakutika(Jinja City), Hanifa Nabukeera(Mukono) and Joan Namutaawe(Masaka).
It’s worth noting that the MP had petitioned the Speaker’s office over the continued disruption of their activities by security operatives and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs).
Their petition follows recent events in different parts of the country where the police broke up functions organized by the MPs to commemorate International Women’s Day in their respective constituencies.
The latest incident was on Friday, 21 April 2023 in Buvuma Islands which led to the hospitalization of the district’s Woman MP, Hon. Susan Mugabi.
“The security officers from the UPDF and Police stormed the venue, confronted Hon. Suzan Mugabi together with other invitees, beat them up teargassed whoever was around, and blocked the Women’s Day celebrations,” the petition reads in part.
The MPs led by the Shadow Minister for Information and Anti-Corruption, Hon. Joyce Bagala questioned where RDCs and Resident City Commissioners (RCCs) derive the authority to stop activities organized by MPs as was witnessed in Soroti City, Ngora, Kiboga, Kasese, Mityana and Buvuma districts.
The petition details how the security forces disrupted the Women’s Day celebrations and left some people nursing injuries.
The MPs demand that Parliament orders the Ministers for Presidency, Internal Affairs, and Gender to present comprehensive reports in regard to the brutality and what they termed as a gross violation of women and the Constitution.
“All officers, RDCs, and RCCs involved in the assault of all the affected MPs be prosecuted personally before courts of law. Security agencies be restrained, stopped, and prevented from blocking Women’s Day celebrations or any other meeting and assembly permitted by law,” Bagala said.
The MPs also want Parliament to compel the Minister of the Presidency to appear before the Presidential Affairs Committee with the RDCs from the affected districts to account for their actions.
