hehehehe......A joint force of presidential guards, the elite Special
Forces Command (SFC) soldiers and police officers attached to parliament
forcibly pulled out several legislators opposed to lifting the age
limit from the chambers of parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
Recall that the commotion began yesterday, ahead of a
debate on whether to grant long-serving President Yoweri Museveni
another term in office. The move to extend Museveni's rule has met
widespread opposition from civic rights activists, the political
opposition, religious leaders and even some members of Museveni’s own
ruling party.
On Wednesday,
the House proceedings was disrupted when fighting broke out between
opposition and NRM MPs, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House.
In a scuffle that lasted more than an hour, at least 30 SFC
soldiers in plain clothes poured into the chambers to pick at least 25
MPs who were named and suspended by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca
Kadaga for three sittings at the beginning of the session, for engaging
in disorderly conduct during yesterday’s plenary sitting.
The operation was commanded by Kampala Metropolitan Police
Commander, Frank Mwesigwa, who was seen earlier in the day, patrolling
the precincts of Parliament with the Inspector General of Police, Gen
Kale Kayihura.
Those suspended from the House include Ronald Kibuule the
state minister of Water, who was accused of carrying a firearm during
the House sitting, an act Kadaga explained was a violation of Rule 74 of
the Rules of Procedure.
“I have received some terrible information that Hon Kibuule
endangered the safety of members by bringing a firearm into this House.
I have checked the footage and Hon Kibuule did not go through security
checks. He came through the Office of the President into the North wing
and into this chamber so I will be suspending you,” Kadaga announced.
Kadaga also suspended 23 opposition legislators, whom she
accused of flouting the House rules by engaging in chaotic behavior.
They will not be allowed to access Parliament, including committee and
plenary sittings.
“The Speaker was not heard in silence. Members were
standing, jumping over tables and chairs; they were dressed in a manner
that contravened the Rules and despite calls from the Speaker to sit
down and be orderly, this was not adhered to. Some members crossed from
one side to another in a menacing manner…This Parliament is a place to
speak, to exchange views even if you don’t have the same views,” she
reminded the legislators.
When the Speaker directed them to leave the chambers with
immediate effect, only Kibuule and Mbwatekamwa complied. The opposition
legislators refused to budge and kept shouting, “procedure, procedure”.
However, Kadaga did not budge and ordered them to leave
immediately or be forced out by officers from the Sergeant-at-Arms. When
the MPs remained defiant, Kadaga suspended the House for 30 minutes.
At that point, the police officers walked into the chambers
to escort the MPs out but the legislators instead grabbed the
microphone stands and tried to scare away the officers.
Some legislators were seen shoving the police officers
away, prompting more commotion that saw the SFC soldiers enter the
chamber and grab MPs indiscriminately. MPs Odonga, Gerald Karuhanga
(Ntungamo Municipality) and Hassan Kaps Fungaroo (Obongi) jumped on the
Table of the House, where the mace is usually placed, with microphone
stands and warned the officers against touching them.
Zaake pulled out his belt and repeatedly tried to whip the
officers. Other MPs hurled chairs at the officers, leaving one of the
Parliament police officers bleeding profusely.
The provocation saw the SFC officers, three or four at a
go, lunge at the MPs and drag them out of the House. Ssemujju was the
first victim to be dragged out. Others followed suit, however the
opposition MPs did not go without a fight.
One of the SFC officers jumped on the seats and grabbed
Nabila Naggayi Ssempala (Kampala Woman) and tried to drag her out.
However, some MPs nearby rushed to save her. It was not until one of his
fellow officers shouted that she is not on the list of suspended MPs
that were suspended that she got relief.
Former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and State Minister of
Works, Gen. Katumba Wamala tried to quell the commotion by calling for
calm and speaking to the SFC officers; however this did not help save
matters.
For close to two hours, the suspended MPs were dragged out,
one by one and swiftly taken to the North Wing entrance, opposite
National Theatre, where a number of police pickup trucks were waiting to
whisk them off to unknown destinations.
At least three MPs fainted, including Osegge, Lucy Achiro
(Aruu North) and Angiro Gutumoi (Erute North). Zaake has also been
admitted in hospital.
-Observer Uganda
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