The Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi is demanding
that the Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among disclose the identity of the
people who attacked MPs during last week’s raucous debate on the coffee bill.
Last week opposition Members of Parliament were physically lifted out of Parliament after they had been suspended by the Speaker. This followed a fracas
in which Kilak North MP Anthony Akol boxed his Mityana municipality counterpart
Francis Zaake. Parliament was sitting to determine whether the Uganda Coffee
Development Authority UDCA should be rationalized.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at parliament, Ssenyonyi said they want the speaker to explain why she
suspended the 12 MPs and who were the men in plain clothes who were seen
assaulting them.
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Ssenyonyi also said he condemned the detention of
journalists to stop them from covering what was going on. He said journalists
play a very significant role in relaying the decisions of policymakers. He said
that parliament debating in the absence of journalists is tantamount to usurping
the power of the people.
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On that day, journalists were not only
closed in the conference hall of parliament but also the electricity was taken off
and the telephone network was jammed to stop the coverage of what was going on. All
these Ssenyonyi said showed that the bill to rationalize UCDA was never brought
in good faith.
He however said, that although the bill was passed and
awaits presidential assent, this will not stop them from pushing on with the
fight for Uganda’s coffee.
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Ssenyonyi also wants President Museveni to substantiate
his claims that UCDA was only giving coffee seedlings to opposition MPs leaving
out their NRM counterparts.
While speaking in Eastern Uganda last week
monitoring the parish development President Museveni said he had information
that the fight for the survival of UCDA by opposition MPs was motivated by
selfish reasons.
Meanwhile, Ssenyonyi also condemned opposition MPs Akol and
Zaake for fighting for a seat. Ssenyonyi said although there was a deficiency in
seats due to the many MPs who had shown up for the debate, this should never
have been a reason for exchanging blows.
