MPs throw out Kayihura juniors

Senior Police officers were on Thursday thrown out of the Parliamentary committee on defense and internal affairs, after the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura failed to appear.

The committee chaired by Mityana Woman MP Judith Nabakooba a former Police spokesperson summoned the Police chief Gen. Kayihura, to brief them on the alleged police brutality.

However, in his brief to the committee, Okoth Ochola, the deputy Inspector General of Police, who had led the police delegation, told the MPs that Kayihura had travelled to Kenya on official duties.

Feeling unconvinced, the, MPs led by Muwanga Kivumba (Butambala) resolved that the Police delegation steps out of the committee for five minutes, to allow the MPs vote on the matter in camera, on whether they should receive submission without Kayihura.

 MPs leaving the committee room. Photo by Maria Wamala

"This happens to be the same routine by the IGP, he has been in the past been summoned by this committee and he gives the same excuses, I know the IGP is around in the country but he just doesn't want to appear before this committee because of the issues facing Police," Kivumbi said.

It took the intervention of the committee chairperson Nabakooba, to allow the Police submit its challenges which included welfare, accommodation and the underfunding, that the MPs accepted to hear from the officers without Kayihura.

However, before the meeting could continue, some MPs including Muwanga Kivumbi, who is the shadow minister for internal affairs, walked out in protest, after the committee resolved that the meeting should continue.

Kayihura who is currently in the limelight over police brutality, was recently summoned by the same committee to explain to parliament why police has continued to use force while handling members of the public especially opposition leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye's supporters.

The committee chairperson however advised that Kayihura could not appear before the committee since, the  matter was before court.