Kyaligonza conduct is unacceptable — Kadaga

Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has described the Sunday assault on Sgt Esther Namaganda, a traffic police officer in Seeta Trading Centre, Mukono District, as unacceptable.
Ms Kadaga was reacting to a video clip that went viral, showing Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi, Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza, and his armed guards assaulting Ms Namaganda.

“I find that conduct really unacceptable for leaders or any other person to descend on someone who is performing their responsibility given to her by the government,” she said.
Ms Kadaga was addressing the media in her boardroom yesterday.

Both Ms Kadaga and Gen Kyaligonza are members of the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement.
The two are also members of the central executive committee, the party’s top decision-making organ.
The Speaker said she was glad Gen Kyaligonza’s guards had been arrested for investigations. This, however, is not enough, according to Ms Kadaga, who asked for a rise in rank for the assaulted officer.

“I want to ask the Inspector General of Police to promote that lady (Sgt Namaganda) because despite the pressure she insisted [on] doing her job in line with the law,” Ms Kadaga said.
Mr Kyaligonza has come under public criticism over what many perceive to be a high level of impunity by the Bush-War veteran.

In a related development, a section of women rights activists led by the Uganda Women Network executive director, Ms Rita Aciro, petitioned the Speaker yesterday, highlighting the rising abuse of women in the country.

Ms Aciro said they are concerned about the worrying developments that have caused women to live in fear of the return of the dark days, characterised by battering and other forms of marginalisation.
The Speaker said there is a need to train Members of Parliament and ministers on gender matters.

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