From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM
KAMPALA RIOTS CAUSES UPROAR IN PARLIAMENT AS THE OPPOSITION BENCHES ROUNDLY CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT IN A HIGHLY CHARGED TEMPER DEBATE.
News Analysis By LeoOdera Omolo.
There was a heated debate in the Ugandan Parliament on Tuesday afternoon over the recent riots that rocked Buganda region earlier this month.
Tempers flared between the opposition and MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement {NRM} during the debate on President Yoweri Museveni’s speech to the House, and the statement by the Internal Security Minister Kirunda Kivejinja.
In an apparent show of solidarity, however, MPs across the board expressed condolences to those who lost their loved ones, and urged the government to adequately address the root causes of the riots.
Internal Security Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, disclosed to the hashed House that 27 people had been confirmed dead as a result of the riots, while 82 were seriously injured. ”We are yet to get postmortem report from Mulago Hospital. Of the dead, 20 of the suspected rioters were victims, including a two-and-half year baby”, he said.
Kivejinja also said that some of the injured people were still in critical condition.
He further disclosed to the House that of the 846 people arrested by police in connection with riots, 745 had already appeared in courts, adding that the majority of those taken to courts have been charged with various offenses, ranging from inciting people to violence, taking part in unlawful assembly, causing malicious damage to property and terrorism.
The security Minister explained that all suspects had been thoroughly screened and those found innocent had been released.
“The police”, the Minister said, “ had yet to receive any reports of people missing as a result of he events”.
“The general situation has normalized, although we continued receiving information that there are some people who are still planning ways of causing further disturbances.”, the minister added.
The opposition side, however, scathingly criticized the way and manner in which the security forces had handled the riots, and decried the restrictions to freedom of association and speech.
Alice Alaso severely criticized President Museveni, for unnecessarily blaming the opposition for the riots, and termed his speech as a diversionary.
Christopher Kabazanga noted that President Museveni’s statement did not address the causes of the riots, and that barring the Kabaka of Buganda from visiting Kayunga, which is parts of the Buganda kingdom, was in itself unlawful act. He also asked to be told as to which law approved the use of live bullets, and who had ordered for the shootings of rioters?
Another MP, Michael Mabbike{DP}, said President Museveni should stop the seemingly unacceptable political scheme of giving Buganda Kingdom piecemeal favors towards the elections, but instead, address the kingdom’s issues once and for all. The MP appealed for promoting dialogue and called on the traditional leaders to stay out of politics.
The State Minister in-charge of Micro-Finance, Ruth Nankabirwa , condemned the organizers of the riots, adding that she knew people who called upon others to get their pangas{machetes}, and all other assortments of weapons for rioting.
When she was challenged to substantiate her claims, the Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, interrupted her , saying investigations were still going on and naming suspects might endanger them.
The Minister supported President Museveni’s idea of introducing the regional tier system, and for drafting a law regulating the activities of traditional leaders.
The Minister, however, disagreed with the President’s demand for cultural leaders to declare their source of funding and gifts.
Another legislator Neddie Mulumba, complained that the government has been bending over to appease the Buganda Kingdom. ”Buganda has been getting better things for nothing”, he said, adding that, “ Busoga kingdom had accepted the regional tier system a long time ago, but it was not implemented, however, the Buganda had flatly refused”.
Patric Oceng, in his contribution to the debate, attributed the violence that rocked the Buganda and Kampala City to idlers, especially those in Kisseka Market, whose occupation is canalizing parked motor vehicles parts..
Joram Rajobo cautioned against allowing other sub-ethnicities to declare their own traditional leaders, arguing they want to abuse the provision in the Constitution to benefit from public funding.
Making his contribution in the same debate, Arimpa Kigyagi said the Kabaka was surrounded by a bunch of opportunists who speak on his behalf and mislead the people, saying Buganda authorities should get rid of these people.
Elioda Tumwesige, on his part, wondered if a functioning kingdom in a Republican state like Uganda was still relevant.
Ends
Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Subject: uproar in ugandan parliament as opposition mps condemn the police handling of rioters