Parliament has condemned the police brutality of a section of legislators who visited Lubigi Wetlands.
In a joint statement issued by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, MP Joel Ssenyonyi, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during the plenary session, they criticized the use of excessive force on the legislators.
Speaker Among said LoP Ssenyonyi and other legislators were on an oversight role, which is a constitutional mandate; therefore, it was unnecessary for security to interfere with the visit.
She maintained that it was unfortunate that the legislators who were on an oversight role around Hoima Road in Nansana Municipality were teargassed by police.
Among said, “The opposition leader is supposed to check what is happening and what the government is doing, so they shouldn’t be teargassed because they are doing their work as legislators.”
“Our work as leaders is to understand our citizens, and in doing so, we are supposed to understand and know what they are going through. Allow us to do our work, and I must thank Ssenyonyi for going to check on the team. We shouldn’t be teargassed by the police, “he stated.
She further wondered why the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) only evicted locals in Lubigi, yet there are several malls built in wetlands that haven’t been demolished, as was the case with the houses and businesses in Lubigi.
In a related development, she criticized the government over the manner in which MP Paul Akamba (Busiki County) was kidnapped by plain-clothed security forces after securing bail at court, and she called an end to the brutal arrest of MPs and all Ugandans. Saying that it is a violation of human rights.
LoP Ssenyonyi and a section of some legislators were confronted and teargassed by the police on Monday, June 17th, while they were going to meet with local residents who had been evicted by NEMA from Lubigi Swamp.
