Kampala — Wakiso District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima, appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to intervene in the arrest and detention of 20 mourners following incidents at the send-off of former Busiro South MP, the late Hon. Charles Matovu.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Naluyima expressed appreciation to the Speaker and Parliament of Uganda for the support extended to the family of the late Matovu during his final send-off.
Naluyima said the support from Parliament and individual Members of Parliament had helped ensure that Matovu was accorded a decent farewell, despite the unfortunate incidents that unfolded during the burial ceremony.
On behalf of the people of Busiro South and Wakiso District, she also apologised for the incidents, saying some of the developments were unfortunate and had been difficult to control at the time.
The legislator acknowledged the Speaker’s proposal for the constitution of a committee to address some of the wider challenges affecting the country, saying such an initiative could help improve the situation and provide a platform to address issues of national concern.
However, Naluyima specifically appealed for the Speaker’s intervention in the matter involving the 20 relatives and mourners who were arrested following the burial.
She questioned whether all those detained had been properly identified as people who had participated in any wrongdoing at the burial place, noting that some of them were relatives of the late Matovu.
Naluyima said the detained individuals were still being held and asked Parliament to come in and help ensure that those who were not responsible for any wrongdoing were released.
She further said she had tried to reach out through calls and text messages in an effort to seek intervention, emphasising that, as the Woman MP for Wakiso, she felt a responsibility to speak up for the people of the district.
Naluyima concluded by asking the Speaker and Parliament to consider the matter and intervene so that the affected relatives and mourners could be released, while thanking the Speaker for the support extended to the family during Matovu’s send-off.
