The Speaker of the 10th Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has Wednesday strongly warned Members of Parliament (MP) against allowing strangers to address Parliament press without her prior knowledge.
The Speaker sounded the warning following reports that Lt. John Junior Mwaal, an alleged victim of torture was arrested on Tuesday at Parliament immediately after addressing a press conference in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament.
Flanked by Nakaseke South MP, Paulson Kasana Lutamaguzi, Lt. Mwaale claimed at the press conference to have been severely tortured by his boss Maj. Ramathan Gidudu in 2015.
“Yesterday there was an allegation raised here that someone who had come to visit Parliament was arrested within the precincts of Parliament but I have evidence here that the subject entered Parliament from the Northern gate and exited safely,” Kadaga noted during his communication to the house.
Kadaga said that Mwale was seen in the company of Hon. Lutamaguzi and other members, went to the canteen, had tea and later addressed a press conference in the precincts of Parliament.
“He spent most of the morning here and after exited Parliament at 1400hrs, I have pictures of him at the bridge walking freely, getting out of the lift of Parliament and on the steps of the northern wing of Parliament walking freely out of the house,” the Speaker revealed citing CCTV footage.
She warned nonetheless that it was wrong for an MP to invite a stranger to address press inside the parliamentary building.
“Not everyone can come here and address a press conference; this is not Nakivubo, it is only members or people allowed by the Speaker; so please don’t abuse your being in the house and don’t do it again otherwise whoever does it again shall be disciplined for breaching the Rules of Procedure,” she warned.