The Government has clarified its actions regarding the detainment of National Unity Platform (NUP) Party president, Robert Kyagulanyi, upon his arrival at Entebbe International Airport on October 5, 2023. They stated that Kyagulanyi’s supporters had planned to march to State House Entebbe.
Last week, opposition members of parliament, led by Mathias Mpuuga, walked out of the House, vowing not to return until the government explained the arrest of NUP leaders and the removal of Kyagulanyi by security operatives.
In response to their demand, State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, presented a statement to parliament on Tuesday regarding the events.
Gen. Muhoozi informed the House that Kyagulanyi’s supporters had organized a “One Million March” to welcome him back, with intentions to march to State House Entebbe, which raised security concerns.
“They mobilized people from across the country to gather in large numbers at Entebbe International Airport to welcome him, in an event they called ‘The One Million March,’ with the declared intention to march to State House Entebbe, among other things,” Muhoozi explained to Parliament.
Upon his arrival at Entebbe, Kyagulanyi was taken into police custody and later transported to his residence in Magere, a move condemned by the opposition.
He had returned from campaigns in Canada and South Africa, where he was mobilizing for NUP.
The government also defended the security measures taken at NUP offices, accusing the party of planning parallel Independence celebrations, which they believed would disrupt the national celebrations in Kitgum.
Muhoozi argued that the NUP prayers were merely a facade for announcing the party’s next course of action.
“Due to their stated goals and potential consequences, security stepped in and thwarted their planned illegal activities. As a result, 14 leaders were arrested, detained at Kira Road Police station, charged, and later released on Police bond the same day,” Muhoozi elaborated.
In response to the government’s statement, Mpuuga presented a video illustration on the floor of Parliament.
However, some National Resistance Movement MPs opposed playing the video, expressing doubts about its authenticity.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, ruled that the video should be played to ensure fairness, as a precedent had been set last week when a video by Rakai district woman MP Juliet Suubi Kinyamatama was allowed in the House.
Despite the ruling, technical issues prevented Mpuuga’s video from being played, and he claimed that the person assigned to play it had mysteriously disappeared from the technical room.
“This speaks of sabotage to prevent the video from being played in Parliament,” Mpuuga stated, vowing not to proceed with his submission until the video, which he said was a crucial part of his response, was played.
In response, Tayebwa suspended House proceedings for ten minutes to determine the way forward.