Kiiza wants Kayihura, Tumukunde sacked

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Winfred Kiiza, has asked Police Chief, Gen Kale Kayihura and Security Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, to quit over “failure” to address insecurity in the country.

Ms. Kiiza said that instead of working, the duo is consumed by rivalry and enmity at the expense of national security.

“There is fighting between Kayihura and his brother (sic) the Minister of Security and Ugandans are paying for this. Both of them want to be seen to be working,” said Kiiza at a news conference she called to address the recent killings in the country, which was held at the Parliament Building, today, Friday 2 March 2018.

Kiiza was flanked by MPs Latif Ssebaggala (Ind., Kawempe North) and Hassan Fungaroo (FDC, Obongi,) among others.

The LOP said that it was better that the security officials resigned beforehand or else they be impeached.

The LOP announced plans by the Opposition to seek a recall of the House from Recess to specifically discuss the security situation in the country, and a Motion for the impeachment of the security chiefs.

This comes after the brutal murder of Susan Magara, who was kidnapped for 20 days, and later murdered and her body dumped on Entebbe Road in Wakiso district neighboring Kampala. Magara’s murder is one of over 15 unsolved murders of women in Wakiso District, over the last six months.

The MPs said they will ensure the officials are sacked because “other than arresting Opposition leaders and beating up MPs”, they have failed to address the growing insecurity.

Article 118 of the Constitution requires that Motion of censure of a Minister to be supported by half of all the voting Members of Parliament.

Article 118(3) states: “Proceedings for censure of a Minister shall be initiated by a petition to the President through the Speaker signed by not less than one-third of all Members of Parliament giving notice that they are dissatisfied with the conduct or performance of the Minister, and intend to move a motion for a resolution of censure and setting out particulars of the grounds in support of the motion.”

It remains unclear how the MPs intend to remove Gen Kayihura from office, since the Constitution allows only the President to perform that action.

Article 213 (5) of the Constitution states that the President may remove the Inspector General or the Deputy Inspector General of Police from office.

Over 28 murders of mainly women have been reported, an issue the MPs say should concern President Yoweri Museveni.

At the funeral of Magara on Thursday, Lt Gen Tumukunde offered apologies on behalf of government and said the killers will be arrested in due course.