Speaker Anita Among has directed that the Police must summon Members of Parliament (MPs) under investigation through her office.
Speaker Among issued this directive during a plenary session on Wednesday, 12 June 2024. She acknowledged that some MPs are currently under arrest and undergoing investigations.
“These investigations are part of the evidence-gathering process. Just as we believe in evidence-based legislation, we support evidence-based prosecution,” she stated.
However, Speaker Among condemned the manner in which Busiki County MP, Hon. Paul Akamba, was re-arrested outside the Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, 14 June 2024.
“This should be within the confines of the law at all stages and times. I have directed the police to summon MPs through me,” she emphasized.
She informed the House that Parliament would receive a report on the investigations, particularly focusing on the brutal arrest of the MPs.
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, criticized the Police for using excessive force on MPs.
“We are glad that the fight against graft is taking shape. It’s been five days since Hon. Paul Akamba was arrested, but the police and his lawyers do not know where he is,” Ssenyonyi said.
Akamba was arrested along with Bunyole East MP, Hon. Yusuf Mutembuli, and Lwengo District Woman MP, Hon. Cissy Namujju, on alleged corruption charges. They have since been charged in court.
In another incident, Speaker Among condemned the Police for spraying teargas at MPs during an oversight visit to the Lubigi wetland area, where the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was evicting illegal occupants.
“The Leader of the Opposition was doing his oversight role around Hoima road, and his team was tear-gassed. It was not called for,” Among added.
She stressed that although Parliament cannot interfere with the independent functions of other authorities, those authorities must perform their duties properly.
“For someone to set up a place in a wetland while you are watching and then you come later to demolish, we have a problem,” she said.
Ssenyonyi questioned why the Police sprayed them with teargas when he had been requested by locals to meet them.
“I went on a fact-finding mission to listen to the people; I had not gone to tell NEMA to stop,” he explained.
He urged the government to explain why it was applying double standards and selectively demolishing structures.
“Police and fuel stations are also located where the demolitions took place, but they were spared,” Ssenyonyi added.
Speaker Among directed the Committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) to meet with NEMA officials and present a report to the House.
