KAMPALA – Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has on Tuesday tasked the Minister of Internal Affairs, Jeje Odong to explain the circumstances under which the Resident District Commissioner of Hoima, Richard Tabaro flogged Elizabeth Katunzi in broad day light during the recently concluded Hoima Woman MP by-elections.
Kadaga’s directive followed a matter raised by Ann Adeke (National Youth MP) who wondered why Tabaro flogged Katunzi yet she had been accredited to cover Kapaki sub county in Hoima.
She said, “If you view the video it is terrible, it was like he was flogging an animal in the same country hosting Common wealth we are just one year shy from general elections. We need an assurance that women in Uganda are safe and actions against such officials will be dealt with particularly by the ministry of Presidency in charge of RDCs because as woman we don’t feel safe in Uganda.”
David Bahati, State Minister for Planning in the Ministry of Finance acknowledged that the video is a bit disturbing and that police is investigating the matter and the Minister of Internal Affairs should be able to inform Parliament on outcomes of the investigations.
Bahati also told off Adeke that Uganda will have peaceful elections and NRM will win, sending NRM female MPs into laughter, something that angered the Opposition MPs who mocked the total disregard of abuse of human rights and wondered what was funny about Ugandans being flogged.
The Speaker also tasked the Minister to come up with a statement on the mechanical condition of vehicles of Police across the country, after James Waluswaka (Bunyole West) said the condition isn’t only affecting Police but all government agencies that saw Betty Aol (Leader of Opposition) car break down recently.
Waluswaka said, “I had to give her a lift and asked if that is the reason she failed to rescue Bobi Wine in Gulu. Government should give officers vehicles in good mechanical condition. The LOP should be given a good vehicle in good mechanical.”
Kadaga said that the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda should explain the state of vehicles in the country.
