By Charles Ariko

OPPOSITION MPs yesterday marched from Parliament to the Uganda Human Rights commission offices on Buganda Road, where they presented a letter applauding the commission for their stand on the continued detention of the PRA suspects.

“We convey to you and all your colleagues and partners, our utmost sincere appreciation for what you are doing in defence of our Constitution and in support of good governance,” the leader of the opposition, Prof. Ogengo Latigo, told the chairperson of the commission, Margaret Sekaggya.

The commission last week ran advertisements in newspapers, saying the continued detention of the 11 PRA suspects after they were granted bail was against their rights.

“We thank your commission in particular for the paid supplement you ran on the continued detention of the Peoples Redemption Army (PRA) suspects. “We will continue carrying out our duties without fear of favour,” Sekaggya told the 23 legislators.

After presenting their letter, the MPs walked back to Parliament through Kampala Road, attracting curious stares from members of the public.

They occasionally flashed the signs of the political parties they belonged to.

The majority of them belonged to the Forum for Democratic Change.
Meanwhile, the president of the Uganda Law Society has attacked the Attorney General over his explanation for the continued detention of the suspects.

He insists that the Constitutional Court never overturned the High Court grant of bail for the suspects.

“The Constitutional Court simply restated the principal of bail that it is discretionary. To overturn a ruling, you must appeal specifically against it,” Deo Nkuzingoma said.
“The detention is thoroughly and absolutely illegal until it has been set aside by a higher court.”