Members of Parliament subscribing to the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) today walked out of the plenary sitting and vowed not to return until their colleagues, Kawempe North’s Muhammad Ssegirinya and his Makindye West counterpart, Allan Ssewanyana are released.
The Leader of Opposition, Hon Mathias Mpuuga led the afternoon protest saying they cannot pay a deaf ear to injustices that continue to be meted on citizens including torture, disappearances, and of killing of citizens which remained unaccounted for.
“On several occasions, myself and colleagues on the opposition have brought to the attention of this House and the country matters pertaining to disappearance of Citizens, detention without trial including MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Hon Ssegirinya Muhammad but nothing has been done. We are walking out over extra judicial killings by the state apparatus, including the latest version of all manner of torture.” Mpuuga said before leading MPs out of the chambers.
“Effective today, we are going to keep away from the proceedings and it will go on for the next two weeks.” Hon Mpuuga said.
“As leaders in this country, We cannot be part of the face of torture; as MPs we reject this and as an open protest, we have decided to be out of the parliamentary plenary for the next two weeks. I want to inform the country, families of the victims including victims that we are out! This must end and now not tomorrow” Mpuuga added amidst chants from MPs.
“This is our first action… This must stop. This is the reason why we are out and we shall continue this push until sensibility returns to those that are doing it including their masters who have failed to reign on to them” He said as members chanted “We need freedom! We want freedom! Free our People!”
Mpuuga however said, during the next two two weeks, the opposition MPs will continue come to parliament everyday to update the country on the next course of action.
In September 2021, joint security forces re-arrested both Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana shortly after they were granted bail from Kigo Prison and have been in prison for months now.
The protest also comes at a time when social media is awash with photographs showing grave acts of torture meted on Kakwenza Rukirabashaija and Samuel Masereka who were allegedly tortured by members of security agencies. Kakwenza is a prominent writer while Masereka is an NUP party coordinator from Kasese.
Kakwenza is however out on bail following charges related to disturbing the peace of President Yoweri Museveni and that of his son -the commander of Land Forces Gen Muhoozi Keinerugaba.
In a video that went viral on social media, Kakwenza shows scars and healing wounds strewn across his body -the back, buttocks, legs, arms, hands and feet, allegedly inflicted by security agents while he was in military detention.
On the other hand, Masereka says he was abducted by armed men on December 7th, 2021, and taken to Kasese Central Police Station from where he was blindfolded and driven to a place he said he later learnt was the headquarters of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence in Mbuya.
At a press conference held last week, Masereka, who looked weak, said that he was interrogated about the activities of NUP, their source of funds, and their plans. He claims that he was electrocuted and beaten to an extent of losing consciousness.
Masereka says for the over 20 days that he was in the custody of security, the torture never stopped. Masereka, who was helped to walk and sit to address journalists, had healing scars on the back, stomach, and legs.
His feet were swollen and bore wounds, he says were inflicted on him by his tormentors. He said that after beating him and leaving marks on his body, they would return the next day and use their big boots to step them. Masereka says there are multiple members of the opposition who are in such a condition in custody. He was released on January 28th, 2022.
“The laws are not just decorations; The 1995 constitution has a whole chapter spelling out Human Right but people continue to be torture including suspects… What brought us to parliament is to ensure laws are protected for the benefit of our people. We cannot relent until our country is liberated and our country returns to rule of law” Kyadondo East MP Muwadda Nkunyingi said.