Parliament Resolves to Censure Gen. Tumwine

6 NEW VISION, Friday, February 7, 2020 NATIONAL NEWS Kadaga orders Parliament resolves to investigations into livestock censure Gen. Tumwine quarantine By Moses Walubiri and only took orders from the “big By Vision Reporter and Nicholas Wasajja man” — Bagyenda. In his interface with the The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, It is very possible that security committee, Tumwine, although has tasked the House’s agricultural committee minister Gen. Elly Tumwine means conceding to the existence of safe with investigating what she described as a “near- well when he appears before houses, stridently pushed back permanent quarantine” in some pockets of the lawmakers and sings for them against allegations of the facilities country. one or two patriotic songs, before being used as torture chambers. A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of reminding them about the ultimate Safe houses, according to people and goods, intended to prevent the spread of sacrifice his generation paid to Tumwine, are necessary for co- diseases or pests. liberate Uganda. ordinating intelligence, briefing and It is often used in connection to disease and However, not all lawmakers debriefing of security assets and illness, preventing the movement of those who may consider Tumwine’s conduct protection of violent criminals who have been exposed to a communicable disease, but innocuous, following a decision on turn into state witnesses. do not have a confirmed medical diagnosis. Wednesday to have the decorated However, he explicitly told MPs Reacting to a petition yesterday by MP Theodore bush war combatant censured over that they would be denied access Ssekikubo on behalf of traders, ranchers and mixed alleged condescending treatment of to safe houses if deemed necessary. farmers in the cattle corridor of Ssembabule, who the Legislature. In August last year, Tumwine riled complained about an alleged illegal blockade While adopting a report from lawmakers sitting on the disciplinary imposed by Gen. Elly Tumwine and Uganda the human rights committee about committee when he reminded them Police force, Kadaga said imposing a permanent alleged torture in ungazetted MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa calling for the censure of Tumwine of the painful sacrifice they made to quarantine “is not good for our country”. places of detention euphemistically in Parliament on Wednesday. Photo by Timothy Murungi usher in the peace and democracy “The committee should use this opportunity to labelled ‘Safe Houses’, the House that some of them take for granted. investigate the near permanent quarantine in some acceded to a motion by Muwanga towards this House. I late last year by the Speaker Tumwine had been dragged to the parts of the country. Members with similar concerns Kivumbi and Mbwatekamwa Gaffa propose that we amend of Parliament, Rebecca committee to answer allegations of should meet the committee,” Kadaga said. to have Tumwine censured over the resolutions to have Kadaga, after MPs contempt of Parliament by Bukonzo The Speaker’s directive followed a request by obstructing lawmakers during the him censured,” Gaffa Latif Sebaggala and West MP Atkins Katusabe, as well Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula South) as to whether conduct of their duties. said. Kassiano Wadri raised as an alleged attack on veteran MPs with similar problems of intermittent or near In the report presented by MPs Barnabas a red flag over alleged lawmaker Cecilia Ogwal. permanent quarantine in their constituencies can committee chairperson Nantume Tinkasiimire, Patrick horrendous torture According to Parliament’s rules of proffer memoranda to the committee during its Egunyu, the MPs recommended Nsamba, Allan taking place in safe procedure, the clerk to Parliament investigation. that Tumwine be held accountable Ssewanyana, Elijah houses at Lwamayuba is expected to pin the notice of Judging by the foot stumping across the aisle, it for obstructing them in the conduct Okupa and Roland and in Kyengera. censure and particulars supporting was evident that the issue raised by Kibalya enjoyed of investigations. However, the Kaginda, too, made a case Tumwine When lawmakers decided the same on the members’ notice wide support. committee had not explicitly called for Tumwine’s censure over to ascertain the veracity board three days after receiving it. The issue of the quarantine in Ssembabule and for Tumwine’s neck. his decision to stop Internal of Sebaggala and Wadri’s At the same time, a list of all parts of Gomba has over the last year been a point of The committee also recommended Security Organis0ation (ISO) allegations by visiting the suspected members is deposited at the contention between lawmakers representing those the immediate closure of all safe director Col Kaka Bagyenda from safe houses in September last Sergeant at Arms for 10 days to sign. areas and government departments and agencies houses. meeting the committee. year, they were denied access by The last minister to be censured was enforcing it. “When will Parliament take a “Let us censure this man to soldiers, who spoke to them in a Jim Muhwezi in 1998 over abuse of Last year, Gomba Woman MP Robinah Rwakoojo stand and declare that enough show him that this House adheres condescending tone. office. asked Parliament to intervene in the matter, saying is enough? Tumwine was very to constitutionalism. We are not At Kyengera, soldiers manning Tumwine was not in the House ranchers were running the risk of failing to foot their arrogant while meeting MPs and jokers,” Tinkasiimire said. the gate told Egunyu and her team and attempts to get a comment from bills, including paying school fees for their children. he continues to be contemptuous The investigations were ordered how they did not know Parliament him were futile. Ssekikubo, who has had running battles with the Police that is enforcing the quarantine, claims the quarantine is the work of highly-placed individuals seeking to edge common traders and ranchers out of the beef market. AG asks Supreme Court to halt ejection of municipality MPs Last year, Rwakoojo told MPs that although the quarantine had made it impossible for traders to By Farooq Kasule Constitutional Court is not vested existent seats. sell their cattle, over 80 cattle afflicted with foot with the jurisdiction to declare “We pray that this court be and mouth disease were taken from Gen. Kahinda The Attorney General (AG) has MPs’ seats vacant. BETWEEN THE LINES pleased to dismiss the application Otafiire’s ranch and slaughtered at Kampala abattoir. asked the Supreme Court to halt Other justices are Mike Chibita, with costs because the balance n Appearing before a panel At the time, Joy Kabatsi, the then state minister the ejection of MPs representing Stella Arach-Amoko, Rubby Aweri of convenience is in favour of of seven justices of the for animal industry, allayed fears that eating cattle six municipalities from the House, Opio, Lillian Tibatemwa, Paul constitutionalism and not the Supreme Court, headed by afflicted with foot and mouth disease by humans pending final determination of the Mugamba and Richard Buteera. applicants,” Ogalo submitted. Esther Kisaakye yesterday, was fatal. appeal. “We intend to challenge the In regard to the issue of fair Principal State Attorney Last month, Ssekikubo and a section of traders Last year on December 27, the lower court’s decision, having filed hearing, Wacha and Ogalo invited George Kalemera from the sought to defy the quarantine, insisting that even Constitutional Court ejected a notice of appeal before this court. court to take judicial notice of AG’s chambers argued that areas not affected by foot and mouth disease had Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri), Dr We have also applied for record the fact that the legislators never the Constitutional court is not been affected by the ban. Elioda Tumwesigye (Sheema), of proceedings in the lower court applied to be party to the suit and vested with the jurisdiction to According to Sections 7 and 29 of the Animal Hashim Sulaiman (Nebbi), Tarsis to draft our grounds of appeal. find that they cannot suffer any declare MPs’ seats vacant. Diseases (Amendment) Act 2005, no person shall Rwaburindore Bishanga (Ibanda), Therefore, we invite this court to irreparable damages if the stay remove from a place of quarantine any animal, Patrick Ocan (Apac) and Peter halt the ejection of the MPs because application is not granted. carcass, fodder, wool, butter ghee or dung, except Abrahams Lokii (Kotido) on the balance of convenience favours never sought the order before the Wacha told court that it is only with the sanction of inspecting officer. grounds that they were occupying us,” Kalemera submitted. lower court, Kalemera said: “We through the general election and non-existent seats. The Electoral Commission (EC) felt since we intend to appeal byelection that someone can be It followed a constitutional lawyer, Eric Sabiiti, argued that before this court, it was also proper elected an MP. petition by former Bufumbira East their intended appeal has higher for it to handle the same.” “Nowhere in the Constitution is MP Eddie Kwizera, who wanted chances of success and that if the All the affected MPs, including it provided for municipalities to over 82 constituencies declared Constitutional Court’s decision Tumwesigye, were in court keenly become automatic parliamentary unlawful. However, of the 82, the is implemented, they will suffer following the proceedings. constituencies,” Wacha submitted. Constitutional Court only declared irreparable damage, in addition to In reply, Kwizera, through his Ogalo accused the AG and EC six unlawful. rendering their appeal nugatory. lawyers Ben Wacha and Wandera of violating the rules of procedure Appearing before a panel of The AG and EC lawyers further Ogalo, implored the court to when they rushed to the Supreme seven justices of the Supreme argued that the six affected dismiss the application with costs, Court for a stay application, Court, headed by Esther Kisaakye legislators were not accorded a saying the AG and EC lawyers which could be handled by the yesterday, Principal State Attorney fair hearing as enshrined in the failed to demonstrate how they will Constitutional Court.

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