The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has spoken out on critics asking her to apologise over what transpired in Parliament a week ago.
She says she can’t apologize because she didn’t do anything wrong.
The Parliamentary Affairs on Constitutional Supremacy is demanding an apology from Kadaga, while Paul Mwiru and other Ugandans are accusing her for inviting security organs into Parliament.
“I didn’t invite any security organs to Parliament. I didn’t command any security organs to take any action in Parliament and I am surprised that me, a civilian is being accused of commanding a security agency. I don’t know how a civilian can command a security agency. It just shows you how empty that thinking is,” Kadaga said.
She added: “I was not aware of further security forces in the presence of Parliament other than the Parliament Police. I only heard in the press that evening that there might have been other people here. So, I will not apologise for applying the Rules of Procedure of this House. I will not. There was a clear breach of our Rules and the conduct we saw here brought this House in disrepute.”
She reminded MPs and those outside trying to “run this Parliament on the street that I am the custodian of the Rules of procedure.”
Meanwhile, Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa said Parliament is an arm of Government and government watches it closely.
“The Government can’t sit back when this arm of Government is being attacked and that the Speaker is being threatened so that she is diverted from doing her work,” she said.
“Government will always come in to protect its institutions including Parliament. This message should go out there to inform people who think that they will threaten this institution,” she added.
She added that what happened in Parliament was a failed attempted coup on Parliament which Kadaga sorted out very well.
“Government is behind you and we will use every means available to make sure the constitution is upheld,” Nankabirwa said.
