KAMPALA – Wakiso District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Naluyima Betty Ethel, has raised concerns over the manner in which young people are arrested, the circulation of irregular SIM cards and increasing cases of kidnappings involving ransom demands.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament while responding to the Minister’s statement on security incidents in various parts of the country, Naluyima thanked the minister for the update but called for greater attention to the circumstances surrounding arrests and other security challenges affecting citizens.
The legislator cited the arrest of youths who were reportedly detained at Entebbe Division Police Station, including a juvenile. She said the young people had narrated how they were allegedly picked up randomly at a roadblock, raising questions about the procedures followed by police officers during arrests.
Naluyima linked the concerns to incidents surrounding the burial of the late Matovu, questioning whether police were complying with Article 23 of the Constitution, which provides for the protection of personal liberty and sets out procedures governing arrests and detention.
She also called on the government to address the circulation of irregular SIM cards, saying the problem had affected many Ugandans, including Members of Parliament, who sometimes receive calls from unknown individuals whose numbers cannot easily be traced.
According to Naluyima, victims who report such incidents to police sometimes end up spending more time and money pursuing investigations without obtaining satisfactory results because the numbers used by the callers cannot be properly identified.
The MP further raised concerns about kidnappings in which criminals reportedly demand ransom from victims or their families. She warned that the security challenge was becoming more worrying as the country approached the festive season, when such incidents could become more frequent.
She also questioned the misuse of vehicle and motorcycle number plates by criminals, alleging that some individuals were directed to move from one location to another before being asked to pay money in connection with the number plates. She urged the responsible authorities to investigate and take action against those involved.
Naluyima called on the responsible minister and security agencies to intervene, strengthen the enforcement of the law and address irregular SIM card registration, unlawful arrests and kidnapping networks to improve public safety and protect Ugandans.
