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Security Forces Attack Opposition Members in Parliament:

Controversy has loomed these past weeks in Uganda, as Museveni Parliamentary Member loyalists, obviously at the behest of the President,  have sought to strip the Ugandan Constitution of Article 102 (b) which bars people who are above 75 years from running for the presidency. President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in office for over 30 years, through many rigged elections, is now 73, and so will age out soon.  Through his henchmen, in true dictator form, he wants to make sure that he remains in office.

The move to extend his rule has met widespread opposition from civic rights activists, the political opposition, religious leaders and even some members of Museveni’s own ruling party.

Today when legislators from the opposing Party indicated their opposition, all hell broke loose in Parliament as army and police were called to facilitate a suspension by the Speaker of the House, Rebecca Kadaga, of the 25 opposing members.

Today the “proof of the pudding is in the eating” – indeed whomever thought Uganda was a democracy was wrong. It is a dictatorship. As one Parliamentary member informed, “The veil is off. Now the world will know Uganda is not a democracy it is indeed a dictatorship.”

The is how the Uganda press spins what happened today:

Parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga has suspended a minister and 25 legislators who allegedly participated in the Tuesday fracas that forced her to adjourn the Sitting to Wednesday.

Ms Kadaga suspended the State Minister for Water, Mr Ronald Kibuule for allegedly going to Parliament Chambers with a gun.

The suspended MPs, mostly Opposition legislators opposed to the scrapping of Article 102 (b) from the Constitution that bars people who are above 75 years from contesting for presidency, have however, refused to vacate the Chambers forcing Ms Kadaga to suspend the Sitting.

Those suspended, among others; are Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine (Kyaddondo East), MP Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West),  Monica Amoding (Kumi District), Dr Sam Lyomoki (Workers) Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality) Ibrahim Kasozi (Makindye East) and  Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North).

After a standoff, security officers dressed in suits stormed the Chambers and forcefully dragged Mr Kyagulanyi and Mr Ssewanyana out.

Ms Angelina Osege, the Soroti District Woman MP who is also the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, was seriously beaten by the arresting security operatives.

She was carried to one of the waiting ambulances by MPs and other Parliament officials. The ambulance took her to an undisclosed hospital. Mr Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), was also seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Other MPs who have reportedly been arrested are Gerald Karuhanga, Odonga Otto (Aruu), Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central), Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) and Mubarak Munyagwa (Kawempe South).

Mr Charles Angiro Gutumoi (Erute North) collapsed as security operatives forced him out.

Magezi motion tabled

Meanwhile, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has returned to the Chambers and allowed Igara West MP Raphael Magezi to table the age limit motion.

Mostly National Resistance Movement MPs and Independents leaning to the party are in the Chambers.

Yes that is a local Newspaper which in and of itself utters the spin on the dictator, and fails to reflect independent press, has reported this news. In truth the President’s army surrounded Parliament, police detained lawmakers and women member s of parliament were reported to have been manhandled.

The chambers off Parliament should be the place where parliamentarians should feel safe and opposition safely expressed, where the Constitution should be revered, not torn down. “That sense of safety was assailed today. If we are not safe in Parliament how can we be safe in our homes?” noted one shocked Member of Parliament via social media, who was slightly injured in the violence that ensued at the hand of security officers.

Today is actually a very sad day. MP’s are asking that you pray for the country. Some have expressed shock and pain. Others have noted relief that finally the veil is off: Uganda is not a Democracy – it is a dictatorship.

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