Ugandan Parliament Rejects Government Explanation on Rwanda Issue

Members of Uganda’s Parliament on Tuesday afternoon dismissed the explanation given by General Moses Ali, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament as to what is happening between Kampala and Kigali.

Lawmakers Muhammad Nsereko and Anna Ebaju Adeke had moved a motion demanding government gives parliament the full picture of what caused the border closure that is affecting the ordinary Ugandans.

Adeke said she has previously raised Rwanda’s concerns over its people being arrested and tortured in Uganda with the Minister of Internal Affairs who asked her to “furnish” him with more details.

“I was surprised because I do not control detentions centers,” said Adeke in the house.

In response, when given the floor, Gen Ali said lawmakers needed to be “calm” as the issues with Rwanda were being handled by government.

He added that Parliament will be briefed in due course.

It is this seemingly unserious response from the First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, that cause more anger on the part of the MPs. Several who spoke rejected his statement.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga directed that Government returns on Thursday with substantive statement detailing the situation and steps government is taking.