Kadaga’s letter to Museveni is mere window dressing

Recently, Members of Parliament (MPs) and civilians were beaten, tortured or killed by security forces following the violent Arua Municipality by-election in which ruling party NRM’s candidate Nusura Tiperu lost to Independent candidate Kassiano Wadri.
The international community quickly condemned the brutality of Ugandan’s military. Almost 12 days after the horrific events, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, wrote a letter to President Museveni, also the commander-in-chief, demanding for the arrest of soldiers and police officers involved in the brutal attacks against the MPs, journalists and innocent Ugandans.
In the letter dated August 27, Ms Kadaga demanded the arrest of security personnel from the Special Forces Command (the presidential guard), police and Military Police, who beat up MPs and civilians, stating clearly that unless this is done, it will be very difficult to conduct government business in Parliament since the House will not condone or acquiesce in acts of torture.
“Your Excellency, I am concerned that no effort has been made to arrest the security officers from the SFC (Special Forces command), Military Police and Uganda Police Force who were involved in the violent actions against unarmed civilians. The security personnel’s conduct is in breach of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012, specifically section 2 (1) (a) and (b). Parliament does not condone acts of lawlessness by any leader or member of the public,” the Speaker wrote.
In September 2017, MPs were beaten inside the Parliament chambers by soldiers of the elite Special Forces Command during the Constitution amendment debate to lift the presidential age limit. Although the Speaker then wrote to President Museveni asking for action against the security personnel, the letter seems to have been ignored without any response or action.
The nature of the relationship between the Speaker and President is supposed to be clear cut with the three arms of government – Parliament, Executive and the Judiciary – bound by the Constitution. Evidently, the Constitution seems to have been compromised and violence continually carried out with impunity.
Early this year while addressing a campaign rally in Ruhaama Constituency, Ntungamo District President Museveni made unsettling remarks which perhaps gives insight into the Executive perception of the August House.
“Parliament is just like a place for all to talk. It’s like a bus park but real things are allocated somewhere else. If you look for an Independent, Opposition, he will never reach [me] at the NRM table (302 MPs) where resource allocation is done. There can never be real development in constituencies,” President Museveni said.
According to South African law professor Manga Fombad, Africa is characterised by leaders who have placed themselves above the law in Cameroon, DR Congo and Zimbabwe. Significant changes made to post-independence constitutions have resulted in the concentration and centralisation of power in one man, the president, and in one institution, the presidency, causing dictatorships and giving rise to political conflicts, repression and poverty.
African presidents often arrogate power to themselves. They rule and reign supreme directly or indirectly in their interest and that of the ruling party which they control and sometimes even express disdain for the constitution.
In Uganda since the manipulation of the Constitution, the Executive might feel offended and angered by Parliament suspending business until President Museveni responds to Speaker Kadaga’s letter.
The suspicion is that the Speaker’s letter and the President’s response may only serve as formality since Parliament, or the Judiciary, no longer have powers to demand accountability from the Executive.