Katumba, MPs clash in Parliament

PIC :(L-R) UPDF Chief of Defense Forces Edward Katumba Wamala, State Minister for veterans Bright Rwamirama and Internal Affairs minister Adolf Mwesige appear before the internal affairs committee of parliament September 13, 2016. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

UPDF army Commander Gen. Katumba Wamala yesterday had a tough time in the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs when MPs questioned his authority to send troops out of the country without seeking permission from Parliament.

Trouble started when MPs Godfrey Katusabe and Jack Wamai wondered whether Katumba followed the law when he sent troops to evacuate thousands of Ugandans from South Sudan.

"While we appreciate the evacuation process, many Ugandans in different parts of South Sudan were not evacuated. Secondly, we have seen insistences where the army is deployed outside without the authority of parliament……" Katusabe said. But before he could complete his submission, Katumba interjected. "Depending on the circumstance but I report to the Commander in Chief. We went in with full permission of the government of South Sudan and the President," he said.

Katumba said where the government of South Sudan did not allow the army to reach, UPDF did not go there. "We requested those people to run to the nearest UN camp for safety." he said.

"You say, permission is granted by the Commander in chief? Is that in the constitution? Can you quote the article?" Katusabe pinned him as Wamai supported him.

Wamai accused the UPDF of taking sides in South Sudan instead of creating peace.

Their questions instead seemed to have incensed the usually calm Katumba who demanded to know why members were bringing issues outside what the committee had asked him to present.

 "No. please we are human beings and we deserve some respect. Why are members diverting us? We came here to answer specific queries," he complained.

 "Madam Chairperson, why is the army commander getting angry?  I get scared when he behaves like this in the committee," Wamai said.

Katumba later regained composure and started responding to other questions.

Defence minister Adolf Mwesige complained to the committee chairperson Rose Masaba that members were politicizing the meeting by bringing in local issues.  

The team was appearing before the committee to interact with members and also update the committee on the current security situation in south Sudan.

This was in addition to briefing members on UPDF's policies on promoting and protecting uganda's interests abroad.

Katumba told members that when UPDF was informed of the war in South Sudan, the Army immediately deployed 2 battalion, two mambas, 2 helicopters for those who needed airlifting and a number of lories.

However the team did not reach Juba because most of Ugandans had already fled towards Uganda border. About 30,000 Ugandans, Kenyans, Burundians, Chinese, Indian and other foreigners were rescued according to Katumba.

Katumba further told MPs that 35,000 South Sudanese refugees, 444 personal vehicles and 422 motorcycles were registered.

  "We also had unconfirmed reports that 5 business people were killed. Three people also died when a trailer carrying people had an accident. But many Ugandans have since gone back," he said.