Chaos in Parliament as minister, 25 MPs are suspended

Kadaga suspends 25 MPs, minister

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has suspended a minister and 25 legislators who allegedly participated in the Tuesday fracas that forced her to adjourn the Sitting to Wednesday.

Ms Kadaga suspended the State Minister for Water, Mr Ronald Kibuule for allegedly going to Parliament Chamber with a gun.

The suspended MPs, mostly Opposition legislators opposed to the scrapping of Article 102 (b) from the Constitution that bars people who are above 75 years from contesting for presidency, have however, refused to vacate the Chambers forcing Ms Kadaga to suspend the Sitting.

Those suspended, among others; are Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine (Kyaddondo East), MP Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West),  Monica Amoding (Kumi District), Dr Sam Lyomoki (Workers) Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality) Ibrahim Kasozi (Makindye East) and  Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North).

After a standoff, security officers dressed in suits stormed the Chambers and forcefully dragged Mr Kyagulanyi and Mr Ssewanyana out.

Ms Angelina Osege, the Soroti District Woman MP who is also the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, was seriously beaten by the arresting security operatives.

 She was carried to one of the waiting ambulances by MPs and other Parliament officials. The ambulance took her to an undisclosed hospital. Mr Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), was also seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Other MPs who have reportedly been arrested are Gerald Karuhanga, Odonga Otto (Aruu), Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central), Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) and Mubarak Munyagwa (Kawempe South).

Mr Charles Angiro Gutumoi (Erute North) collapsed as security operatives forced him out.

Magezi motion tabled

Meanwhile, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has returned to the Chambers and allowed Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi to table the age limit motion.

Mostly National Resistance Movement MPs and Independents leaning to the party are in the Chambers.