Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has advised the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah that Members of Parliament are not unique to other members of society if suspected to have committed a crime.
Opondo says any security officer can arrest an MP if he/she is suspected to have got involved in committing a crime.
During yesterday’s plenary sitting, Speaker Oulanyah said arresting MPs should be undertaken by Security operatives of a “certain” status, not just Constables.
“There should be respect of Office and Status of the members of Parliament,” said Speaker Oulanyah.
Through his known social media handle, Opondo responded to Oulanyah saying that he might not be aware of some laws or just taking the current title very seriously.
“You may be going too far, boss. Suppose there isn’t that officer of ‘certain status’ when an offense is being committed?
The army world over has internal rules on discipline including arrests, prosecution, and conviction. Usually, an officer above or of the same rank is the one who executes the arrest or presides over the case, unless otherwise,” said Opondo in a tweet.
Opposition MPs yesterday boycotted the plenary sitting over the continued detention of their colleagues Allan Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya Muhammed.
The two MPs were slapped with fresh murder charges and remanded to Kigo Prison until October 13.