The Speaker of Uganda’s Rebecca Kadaga has rejected a debate on the public the exchange involving the Security Minister, Gen Elly Tumwine and Lt Gen, Charles Angina that ensued following when the duo intervened in a land wrangle between businessman Godfrey Kirumira and Dr Ben Khingi, a surgeon at Mulago hospital.
The speaker rejected the debate after Kasilo County MP, Elijah Okupa called on the Commander in Chief, President Yoweri Museveni to reign in over the conduct of General Tumwine for humiliating Angina yet he had the option of summoning him.
Last week a video clip
circulated showing largely one-sided exchange.
In the video, Gen Tumwine addresses Lt Gen Angina thus: “At 3am in the morning!
Why do you do this in the night? Why not during the day? Don’t abuse our
forces. Have you heard? Don’t abuse our forces; you and the police. Don’t abuse
our forces. We all have disagreements, we don’t use our forces like this. Why
not do it during day if it is okay?”
All the while, Lt Gen Angina kept responding “yes sir”, seeking in vain opportunity to explain.
Presenting the matter on the floor of Parliament this morning, Okupa said, “It was embarrassing for the General to humiliate Angina, I pray the commander in chief takes action. You remember he tried to box Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, and almost beat up Cecilia Ogwal, his conduct is a matter of national concern. The commander in chief should take action on conduct of General Tumwine.”
However, Okupa’s gesture was rubbished by Pecos Kutesa (UPDF Representative), who wondered under what mandate of Parliament the lawmaker was questioning the conduct of soldiers, saying the Legislature has over stepped its mandate.
“When civilians start telling soldiers how they should behave, I think they have stepped their mandate. What concern has this house about the conduct of UPDF? What is his mandate? I want an explanation,” said Kutesa.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga told off Kutesa saying the conduct of any Government officials is of concern to the country, therefore the army isn’t a no go area for Ugandans.
“I think the people of Uganda are entitled to comment on what they have seen. There is no point of order there,” she said.
Among the MPs to defend Tumwine was Patrick Isiagi (Kachumbala County) who questioned why Parliament was siding with land grabbers like Angina.
With many MPs expressing interest to debate the matter, Kadaga said there was no way Parliament would take debate on the matter when facts haven’t been established.
“I think we can’t take a position on this issue because I don’t have facts on either sides,” Kadaga said.
