The Speaker of the Ugandan National Assembly Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has written to the President Yoweri Museveni demanding that the officers involved in the arrest and torture of six members of parliament on August 13 at Arua Municipality be arrested and prosecuted.
In the letter dated August 27, Ms Kadaga indicates that unless the officers involved are apprehended, it will be difficult for the parliament to conduct government business.
Among the MPs arrested in the August 13 Arua by-election saga include Jinja East MP, Paul Mwiru, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Arua MP-elect Kassiano Wadri, Kyadondo MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, Mityana MP Francis Zaake and ex-MP Michael Mabike.
In the fracas, a number of civilians and journalists were beaten, assaulted, tortured and thereafter incarcerated in a military custody. One civilian was shot dead.
Wine and other opposition supporters are accused of mobilising and attacking president Yoweri Museveni’s convoy.
Read: DCJ Mwilu’s Arrest Could Be A Politically Instigated Witch Hunt, ODM
“Hon Zaake remains gravely ill while Hon Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) has visible signs of torture and beatings,” reads the letter in part.
The parliament regrets that no action has been taken against the military officers who were involved, despite the army issuing an apology for beating journalists during the protests that led to release of Bobi Wine.
Wine was yesterday granted bail by the High Court in Gulu, a town in the Northern part of the country.
He has been in detention for two weeks and was granted bail along with 11 other co-accused colleagues who are facing treason charges.
“Your Excellency, I am concerned that no effort has been made to arrest the security officers from SFC, Military Police and Uganda Police Force who were involved in the violent actions against unarmed civilians. This is therefore to demand that the officers concerned be apprehended at the earliest opportunity and presented in court,” continues the letter.
“Unless this is done, it will be very difficult to conduct Government Business in Parliament. The Ugandan Parliament will not condone or acquiesce in acts of torture,” adds the letter.
Wine and co-accused are to appear before the Gulu Chief Magistrates Court on August 30 and any other time as court desires.
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