133 MPs have appended their signatures to recall Parliament

By Julius Odeke

The number of lawmakers behind the petition to recall Parliament for a special sitting to discuss the “storm” surrounding the unresolved death of former Butaleja MP Cerinah Nebanda is said to have surpassed the required number of signatures.

The triumph sets stage for the political contest in the House over prosecution of some MPs regarding the disputed death of their colleague and the expected police questioning of the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for allegedly rejecting the government’s autopsy and toxicology report that linked Nebanda’s death to narcotic drugs.

In the afternoon press conference called so far 133 members had signed up the petition, the lead petitioner Mr Dennis Obua (NRM, Ajuri) tabled a letter to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga dated January 2 requesting for an appointment to present the reasons why they want the House
recalled.

“We want to announce and tell Ugandans that we have got all the signatures required to call for a special sitting of Parliament and we are only waiting for the Speaker to respond to our letter,” Mr Obua
said.

Earlier, a group of six pro-government MPs led by the Minister without Portfolio, Mr Richard Todwong, held a parallel press conference in which they accused their colleagues of interfering with the independence of the Executive and Judiciary.

The group said that the MPs wanted by police over their comments on the death of Nebanda
should carry their cross and stop hiding behind Parliament.

The six pro-government members are Richard Todwong, Dr Kenneth Omona (NRM, Soroti), Peter Ogwang (Eastern Youth), Vincent Bagiire (NRM, Bunya West), Hatwib Katoto (NRM, Katerera) and Workers MP Rwakajara Arinaitwe.