By Joyce Namutebi

DEMOCRATIC Party’s (DP) Betty Nambooze Bakireke was yesterday sworn in as Mukono North Member of Parliament amidst tight security.

The ceremony, held on the steps of Parliament, was presided over by Speaker Edward Sekandi and witnessed by a crowd of supporters, who included her husband, opposition MPs and DP leader Norbert Mao.

Prior to the function, the Police were deployed in and around Parliament. The Sergeant-At-Arms, Ahmed Kagoye, later explained that security had been beefed up to control the crowd.

Nambooze, who defeated her main rival, NRM’s Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, in the byelection held last week, was sworn in at the time when Parliament was on recess.

A new session opens today with a State of the Nation Address by the President.

Sekandi explained that a few days ago, Nambooze and her lawyer, Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, had asked him when she would be sworn in.

She wanted to be part of today’s deliberations as a full MP, Sekandi said.
He advised her on leadership.

After the function, Nambooze said: “I am coming as an MP for all people and when I sit on the opposition, I am bringing hope with me.”

She argued that people had lost hope in state organs such as the Executive, Parliament, the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission.

“My victory restores hope which we need. I am here as a sign of peace,” the MP said.

After leaving Parliament, she and Lukwago held a rally on Parliament Avenue, where they were surrounded by the Police.

Nambooze, who cancelled earlier plans of going to either Clock Tower or Old Kampala, appealed to her supporters to treat the Police as friends.

She claimed that two of her supporters had been shot at on their way to Parliament.

However, the Police said they shot in the air to stop her supporters from harassing guards at the Nakumatt shopping complex, adding that no one was injured.

The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said Lukwago wrote to them on Monday seeking permission to hold the rally at Clock Tower.
“We proposed that they either go to Old Kampala play field or Kololo Airstrip,” Kayihura said.

Quoting the Mabira forest demonstration in 2007, where eight people died during clashes with the Police, Kayihura said Nambooze could not hold the rally at Clock Tower, saying it was too risky.

“Clock Tower is near a highway and a busy junction. There is a possibility of the supporters being knocked. So for their sake and the traffic flow and management, we told them they could not do so,” Kayihura said.

He also cited a dispute over ownership of the venue.

Additional reporting by Mary Karugaba