Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has threatened to block government business in parliament until the and of security officers who were involved in assaulting and torturing of legislators and civilians in Arua are arrested and prosecuted.
In a letter addressed to President Museveni, Kadaga expressed her sadness saying it is a great concern that no efforts have been made to arrest security officers from special Forces command (SFC) , Military police and Uganda police forces who were involved in actions against that witnesses torture of civilians.
On August 13, security forces brutally nabbed and tortured Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi along, MP elect for Arua Municipality Kassiano Wadri, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, former MP Michael Mabikke, Fred Nyanzi, Candidate Kassiano Wadri, journalists and other.
The fracas led to gundown of Kyagulanyi’s driver Yisin Kawuma as security officers smoked his boss out of the ceiling in his hotel room in Arua.
The group was later charged with of treason and malicious damage of president’s vehicle that was in procession after holding their conclusive rallies ahead of the concluded Arua municipality by-election that tha saw Wadri winning the seat.
Kadaga said the conduct breaches provision and prohibition of torture act of 2012 in force in uganda especially section 2 1(a) and (b, “ this is therefore to demand that officers concerned be apprehended at the easiest opportunity and presented before courts of law,”she added.
She said unless this is done, it will be difficult to conduct government business in parliament adding that the house will not condone or acquiesce in acts of torture.
“I however, hasten to add that parliement equally does not condone acts of lawlessness by any leader or members of the public,” she said.
In a fully packed Court, Politicians have however, been released by Gulu High Court Magistrate Steven Mubiru on Shs5 million cash bail.