KAMPALA – The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga rejected a motion from the Parliamentary West Nile caucus that was seeking Government to guarantee State Minister for Privatisation, Evelyn Anite’s security after she claimed on Monday that mafias are after her life.
The Speaker’s ruling followed a move by Alioni Yorke (Aringa South) who took to the floor to raise the issue as a matter of national importance arguing that the West Nile region is still yet to receive accountability on who killed former Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga who was gunned down in June 2018.
The lawmakers from the West Nile region want government to address Anite’s concerns and also demanded an explanation from Government on the threats on Anite’s life as well as calls to pronounce itself on Anite’s security and to reassure the anxious people from West Nile of her safety.
The West Nile legislators also called on Government to formally communicate to the country on the state of affairs at UTL and the status of the telecom’s assets.
They also want Government to guarantee that no Ugandan irrespective of their tribe, affiliation should be vindicated while performing their duties including demanding accountability.
They also called on the ICT Ministry, Uganda Communications Commission and Police to investigate and report on the phone tapping allegations, poisoning threats and on who could be trailig Anite.
The lawmakers said that they are eagerly waiting for a permanent Government solution to the UTL saga with calls to have the matter settled to ensure all Ugandans live in harmony.
However, the Speaker cut Alioni short and requested him to instead ask Anite to report to parliament on the matter in person with the Speaker arguing that the West Nile caucus’s motion is only being treated as hearsay because Anite as a Member of Parliament has an opportunity to raise such threats in person.
She said, “I think Anite should come here herself and speak on those issues, yours is hear say, let her come and present her issues here. The caucus is an informal caucus, let Anite come and report to me because we don’t know let her come to me, my office is open.”
After failing to raise their matter on the floor, the MPs are said to have staged a demonstration at Arua Park in Kampala in solidarity with Anite with calls to Government to boost Anite’s security.