Kampala — A host of lawmakers across the political divide are meeting today Monday, ahead of tomorrow's special Parliamentary session to debate the circumstances under which three Mengo officials were recently arrested.

Today's meeting, according to Butambala County MP Ibrahim Kadunabbi (NRM), who heads the "Concerned MPs Group," is intended to push for what he described as a common front ahead of tomorrow's session.

"This meeting is not for Buganda MPs only," Mr Kadunabbi said.

"It's going to be a meeting for concerned MPs who signed the petition to recall Parliament. This is so because all members are concerned and they are eager to offer workable solutions to the stand off between Mengo and the central government."

On July 18, the police arrested Buganda's Minister of Information and Cabinet Affairs Charles Peter Mayiga, his deputy Medard Lubega, and Ms Betty Nambooze, who heads the kingdom's committee set up to campaign against the proposed changes to the 1998 Land Act.

The three officials were released on Friday after spending a week in custody. The government dropped terrorism charges and instead preferred sedition charges against Mr Lubega and Ms Nambooze.

Mr Mayiga was released on police bond. "We don't want any surprises on Tuesday," said Kampala Central MP Mr Erias Lukwago (DP). The crisis meeting at Parliament today comes two days after the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Ssekandi, issued an urgent notice on Friday evening recalling the house to debate the arrests.

In his letter dated July 25, Mr Ssekandi instructed the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Aeneas Tandekwire, to reconvene the House tomorrow as a matter of urgency. Mr Ssekandi instructed government through the Internal Affairs Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, to present a statement to Parliament on the arrest of the three officials.