The Opposition Members of Parliament, led by Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, have said that they won’t return to Parliament for plenary sessions until the government issues an apology and commits to ending the brutal actions carried out by security forces against them.
On Tuesday, opposition MPs, with Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi at the forefront, left the plenary session in protest against the arrests of their leaders.
This decision came about after Kivumbi sought an explanation from the government regarding the legality of security forces preventing people from participating in prayers or assemblies, especially given that the Constitutional Court had already invalidated the Public Order Management Act.
Kivumbi also demanded the unconditional release of all political prisoners and insisted on receiving a statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In response, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa criticized the opposition for ambushing the presiding officer and suggested that they should leave if they wished to do so.
This afternoon, Mpuuga addressed the media and reiterated their stance, stating that the MPs would not return to plenary until the government apologizes for their actions.
Mpuuga expressed his concerns, saying, “Those actions should never be repeated because they have no basis in law or common sense. We won’t stand by as politics descends into vulgarity. The NRM is happy to disrespect our party offices and hinder the opposition from a simple act of humility like prayer. In their warped logic, they consider praying an illegality, and they believe we need their permission.”
On Monday, the army and the police prevented National Unity Platform supporters and their leaders from holding a prayer session in memory of their supporters who had lost their lives in the struggle for change.