Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine has urged Ugandans to ignore messages on social media threatening instability.
In a brief off-the-cuff remarks to Parliament on Thursday, 12 July 2018, Tumwine said such threats amount to nothing.
“Threatening of the public is not good; Ugandans are safe, the security of the country is in the hands of the agencies that are assigned by the Constitution,” he said.
Gen Tumwine was expected to make a formal statement on the state of security in the country, together with his Defense and Internal Affairs counterparts Adolf Mwesige and Gen Jeje Odongo.
The ministers were asked to offer an explanation on the state of national security following concerns raised by legislators about social media messages announcing an attack on Uganda.
Gen Tumwine conveyed the Ministers’ apology, but was interrupted by Chief Opposition Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality).
“The statement by the Ministers is an item on the Order Paper. It’s not meant to be a casual statement or an afterthought,” said Ssemujju in a point of order.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga concurred with Ssemujju’s submission.
“We really wanted a comprehensive statement from you, a written statement circulated to Members,” said Kadaga, instructing Gen Tumwine to appear with the agreed joint statement.
MPs security
Kadaga said the Parliamentary Commission would soon meet to consider the President’s letter on providing security to MPs.
In a letter to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Museveni directed the purchase of a fleet of double cabin pick up trucks with ‘carrier beds’ to carry army sharp shooters to protect MPs.
Hon Thomas Tayebwa (NRM, Ruhinda North) objected to the plan and instead proposed that individual MPs in need of such security arrangements should register with the Clerk to Parliament.
He was widely applauded.
In a special Parliament sitting, Museveni issued a 12-point master plan to combat rising killings, kidnaps and high profile assassinations.
