A section of Members of Parliament have challenged their colleague’s on Parliament’s Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs not to be intimidated by pressure arising from their decision to summon the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

This follows the cancellation of the committee’s Monday’s meeting in which Gen. Kainerugaba was expected to appear.

Last week on Friday, the same committee had summoned Gen. Kainerugaba to appear with other officials and ministers to present the  Ministry of Defense Ministerial Policy Statement for the financial year 2025/26, but unfortunately he didn’t appear and with no apology, leading to the suspension of the committee sitting till Monday. 

Shockingly, on Monday committee members woke up to a WhatsApp message informing them how the committee was adjourned to Tuesday without a reasonable excuse.

Speaking to a section of MPs who included the Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi and Aisha Kabanda, the Butambala district Woman MP, they said that this is a test to the Defence Committee especially its Chairperson, to either side with the oppressors or invoke the legal muscle as entrusted to him by the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure to summon Gen. Kainerugaba and not be timid.

Members on the Committee demand that Gen Kainerugaba appear in person and give an account of his X posts that have threatened harm to the lives of prominent opposition politicians citing Dr. Kizza Besigye that he will be hanged on Liberation Day, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi’s head will be cut and also referring to MPs on the committee as clowns. 

By Francis Lubega

20 Nov 2024

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