Emmanuel Gyezaho and Sheila Naturinda
19 June 2008
The government yesterday defended the Police's recent arrest and detention of MPs but the statement by Dr Ruhakana Rugunda only provoked outrage from the House.
As he read his 17-page statement, the Internal Affairs minister under whom Police falls, was continuously interrupted by heckles and booing from the MPs, who apparently contested his submissions.
It was not surprising that no sooner had Dr Rugunda completed the statement than a host of MPs on both sides of the political divide shot up in earnest, to catch Speaker Edward Sekandi's eye for an opportunity to debate the thorny issue on the management of public order by the Police Force.
Mr Sekandi declined to budge to the MPs demand to initiate debate, sending the legislators home yesterday evening, to apparently take time off, cool their emotions, read and internalise the statement.
"Members you can all see that this is a matter of national importance," said the Speaker, as some MPs declined to sit down. "Lets go re-read it [the statement] and we get a full one hour first thing tomorrow [today] at 2pm sharp and we debate it," ruled Mr Sekandi, as he closed the matter.
Dr Rugunda offered graphic details of what transpired during the arrests of MPs Nabilah Sempala (FDC, Kampala), Dr Sam Lyomoki (NRM, Workers), and MP Susan Nampijja's scuffles with the police. His statement also defended the break up of a series of rallies organised by the opposition FDC and the DP.
But his account, contradicts what the MPs have already claimed transpired on the during their arrests.
On incidents that involved Ms Nampijja, Dr Rugunda said the youthful MP's June 7 bicycle rally and football match at Kitebi Primary School in Nateete, was organised "without reference to, and support of the Police", an action that duly warranted the deployment of the Riot Police.
"The DPC Katwe, having been informed about the rally, alerted the Riot Police about the unlawful assembly that had been convened," said Dr Rugunda, "and instructed him to disperse it." Dr Rugunda said Ms Nampijja "was assisted out of the [school] grounds by the Police", when the crowd became rowdy, after the police dispersed them.
"Hon Members will note that this rally was organised on the day of the attempted DP rally at Clock Tower grounds," the minister said, adding, "This created suspicion that the two assemblies were connected, especially as Police had got information suggesting that DP, (so as to overstretch the Police) planned to concentrate crowds at different points in the suburbs of the City, and then move on to the Clock Tower grounds."
Dr Rugunda said the MP was on another incident in a market in Ndeeba, "rescued by the Police" on June 9, "when she was caught up in chaos between two rival groups." However, in a personal statement to the House on Tuesday, Ms Nampijja ,said she was assaulted by the Police, and fainted due to effects of tear gas.
Discussing Dr Lyomoki's June 9 arrest at Mbale Hospital, Dr Rugunda said the workers' MP forced his way into the hospital after being denied permission, to "acquaint himself with the problems of the hospital", and interfered with hospital operations, prompting authorities to request police assistance.
"Dr Lyomoki refused to leave. He spent that night in the Female Ward (Masaba Wing) of the Hospital," said Dr Rugunda, throwing the House into frenzy. "The following day, the RDC summoned Dr Lyomoki and cautioned him that he would be arrested if he didn't leave."
Dr Rugunda added that Dr Lyomoki subsequently defied the RDC's orders and went back to the hospital, prompting his arrest and subsequent charging with disobeying lawful orders. He said the workers' MP was removed forcefully from Tororo Hospital where he "acted similarly."
The minister said Ms Sempala's arrest was executed after she struck a police officer with a microphone and also hit him in the chest. "It was in the process of effecting the arrest by female constables that a scuffle resulted when the Honourable MP resisted arrest," he said.
Ms Sempala has on several occasions said she was undressed, brutalised and humiliated by the police. However, Dr Rugunda said police was "studying the video footage of the incident, and other evidence to establish, whether, indeed the police officers used more force than was necessary."
Citing Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya's interpretation of the recent Constitutional Court ruling that nullified the law that makes it mandatory for Ugandans to seek written permission from the Police before holding an assembly, Dr Rugunda said the Police still have a role to play in managing public order, and have the power to allow or prohibit the holding of public rallies.
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