On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Mr. Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), expressed concern over the significant presence of security personnel at Parliament. He raised the issue, stating that this heightened security might create an uncomfortable atmosphere for some legislators.
Mr. Mpuuga received reports from fellow members indicating that the parliamentary premises were surrounded by military personnel who arrived in vehicles, some of which were used during the 2017 age-limit debate. He questioned the authority behind their deployment, emphasizing the need to understand the circumstances surrounding the House’s current situation.
Additionally, Mr. Mpuuga pointed out that certain television stations, particularly NBS and NTV, which typically livestream parliamentary proceedings, were no longer providing live coverage. He expressed worries about the implications of legislating in such an environment.
In response to these concerns, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Thomas Tayebwa, clarified that the security deployment referred to was managed by the Kampala Metropolitan Area Police and was intended to prevent any disruptions from unidentified disorderly individuals. He emphasized that he had not ordered any additional security at Parliament, deeming it unnecessary.
Mr. Tayebwa assured that the security measures were focused on events outside Parliament, and within the parliamentary chambers, there was no cause for concern. He explained that the Kampala Metropolitan police had acted based on intelligence reports regarding potentially disruptive groups planning to approach Parliament.
