KAMPALA – Jinja City South Division East Member of Parliament, Hon. Paul Mwiru, has called for reforms in the legal framework governing government-funded research while raising concerns over the alleged detention of two retired senior army officers without access to their families.
Mwiru made the submissions while contributing to parliamentary proceedings on the floor of Parliament, where he addressed the need to strengthen Uganda’s research and innovation sector alongside the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights.
On research and innovation, Mwiru argued that government invests substantial resources in institutions such as the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Makerere University and the Uganda Industrial Research Institute, where scientists dedicate their efforts to developing new technologies and innovations.
However, he expressed concern that existing laws restrict public research institutions from directly commercialising some of their innovations, requiring them to engage independent individuals or entities to undertake the process.
The legislator said these institutions already have the necessary human resources, land and technical capacity to participate in commercialisation, urging government to review the legal framework and allow them to commercialise their innovations to a reasonable extent.
He further called for a balanced approach that encourages private-sector participation while protecting public investments, warning that middlemen could take advantage of government-funded research without making meaningful contributions to its development.
In a separate submission during the same parliamentary sitting, Mwiru raised concerns over the protection of personal liberty, citing Article 23 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty and provides safeguards against unlawful arrest and detention.
He informed the House that families of retired senior army officers, Major General Abel Kandiho and Brigadier Charles Wacha, had approached him over concerns that the two officers were allegedly being held in unauthorised detention facilities and incommunicado.
Mwiru urged Parliament to intervene, arguing that government had a responsibility to account for individuals in detention and ensure that constitutional rights are respected. He also warned that continued concerns over personal liberties could affect investor confidence in the country.
He reminded the Speaker that Parliament had previously undertaken to organise a debate on personal liberties, expressing concern that civilians and retired military officers continued to face reported violations as the House awaited the promised discussion.
In response, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth described the matter as serious and indicated that the Minister of Internal Affairs would be required to appear before Parliament to explain issues surrounding arrests and detention.
The Speaker said the minister was expected to make a presentation to the House on the arrests and related detention concerns, while government as a whole would also be required to indicate when it would be ready for the broader debate on personal liberties.
Mwiru’s contribution brought into focus the need to strengthen the legal framework for commercialising publicly funded research while ensuring that government remains accountable for upholding constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.
