Hon. Dr. Nicholas Thaddeus Kamara, Member of Parliament for Kabale Municipality, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the residents of Kabale Municipality for their prayers and support during his recent police detention. Dr. Kamara, along with his colleagues, was arrested while seeking answers regarding the apprehension of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) members.
Dr. Kamara made these remarks today, August 11, 2024, during a baptism ceremony and thanksgiving service for Mr. and Mrs. Mucunguzi Levic Kagooro at St. James Kijuguta Church of Uganda in the Denary of St. Peter’s Cathedral Rugarama, Diocese of Kigezi. He took the opportunity to recount the events leading to his arrest, explaining that the FDC members had been petitioning the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda, demanding explanations and the immediate release of their colleagues detained by Ugandan authorities.
Hon. Kamara revealed that 36 FDC members from the Katonga faction were arrested in Kisumu, Kenya, by Ugandan external security operatives while en route to a meeting. According to FDC, 33 of these members are currently held at Kitalya Prison, while three are detained at Luzira Maximum Prison.
“In Parliament, we are advocating for the rights of prisoners detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries,” Dr. Nicholas informed the public.
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Erias Lukwago, the acting president of the FDC Katonga faction, disclosed that regional governors in Kisumu and other areas denied any knowledge of the kidnappings and abductions of Ugandans in Kenya. The FDC leadership has expressed deep concern, believing that this incident sets a dangerous precedent, reminiscent of historical abductions in the region. They are demanding that the Kenyan government take immediate action to resolve the situation.
Dr. Nicholas Kamara also reflected on the challenges he faced this week, particularly his involvement in parliamentary discussions on the government’s failure to deploy medical interns. He criticized the government’s claims of financial constraints, pointing out that President Yoweri Museveni had previously declared scientists as crucial to Uganda’s development.
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On Monday, Joseph Socrates Odong, a graduate of medicine and surgery from Makerere University and a pre-intern, highlighted that despite efforts to deploy 1,263 interns, 1,207 remain unemployed. He emphasized that they have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament and President Museveni to urgently address the issue.
Regarding the ongoing electricity issues in Kabale District, Hon. Kamara voiced his support for a planned demonstration on August 9, 2024, protesting the poor electricity service in the district. However, the demonstration’s organizers were arrested before it could take place.
The detained individuals included Job Namanya Apuuli, a journalist with Vision Group; Obed Kankiriho, a journalist affiliated with The Source UG Website and Daily Monitor; and social media influencers Murungi Charlotte Kemigisha, known as Kemmy, and Tumuranze Precious. They were apprehended on Thursday night at Café Barista, a popular hangout in Kabale town.
The arrests were led by Andrew Akanyijuka, the Officer in Charge of Kabale Police Station, who, along with several officers, stormed the café and presented an arrest warrant citing charges of inciting violence.
Dr. Kamara criticized the government’s repeated promises to improve the electricity supply in Kabale, stating that residents are now fed up with UMEME due to the frequent power outages.
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He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of the people of Kabale Municipality, even in the face of such challenges.
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