Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, Uganda Parliament is not Home for Criminals

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Uganda Jacob Oulanyah on Tuesday, April 23 warned the opposition members against raising Parliament privileges and immunities as ground for the legislative body to intervene in the house arrest of Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi.

The Deputy Speaker made the pronouncement while presiding over the plenary sitting after Mukono Municipality MP, Betty Nambooze asked Parliament to intervene saying the continued incarceration of the Legislator has left the people of Kyadondo East with no representative yet no explanation has been given for his house arrest.

The Deputy Speaker asked Nambooze not to confuse scenarios when privileges and immunities for MPs work arguing; “Parliament isn’t a safety for criminal conduct. If you commit a crime you will be prosecuted please remember this when you conduct your affairs.  Parliamentary privileges relate to what you say and do while in parliament not outside parliament. You will not have the protection of parliament. Let us be honorable in the way we do things.”

However, the Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju said there is no reason that has been given for Kyagulanyi’s incarceration which is reason enough for Parliament to intervene, “Until someone has been told you have been presented from attending Parliament, and no explanation has been given we are pleading with government to allow him come to parliament or tell him why they are stopping him.”

The Deputy Speaker then said he would pronounce himself on the matter after receiving a statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.