By Mubiru Ivan
The Committee on Human Rights of parliamentarians has resolved to to send a delegation to Uganda to meet President Yoweri Museveni and the Attorney General over the recent arrest, detention and alleged torture of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake and other legislators on the eve of Arua Municipality by election in August.
The resolution came as the 139th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union adopted reports of its various standing committees in Geneva, Switzerland on 18 October 2018.
According to the committee, the MPs, as well as Kassiano Wadri, who went on to win the seat in the by election, and other individuals were allegedly tortured during their arrest and subsequent detention by security agents.
“The committee has resolved that they would like to follow up on this case by attending court hearings and also carrying out interviews with the security chiefs,” said Speaker Rebecca Kadaga as quoted by parliament.go.ug
On the other hand, the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Daniella Solorzano commended Parliament of Uganda for its swift and decisive decision to send a team of MPs to visit the MPs, report on their physical condition and find out what charges were brought up against them in court.
Speaker Kadaga expressed her disappointment that Uganda had to be part of the Agenda at IPU and explained that all steps and investigations are being carried out to have the issues settled.
“It’s very unfortunate that for the first time in our history, Uganda as a country was reported to the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians,” Kadaga said.
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