Security Minister Impeachment. Uganda Parliament Kick Starts Process to Remove Gen Tumwine from Office.

Gen. Elly Tumwiine

Members of Parliament have passed a motion to censure Security Minister, Gen. Elly Tumwine over alleged torture in safe houses across the country.

Parliament on Wednesday received and debated the report of the Human Rights Committee investigation into the existence of safe houses in Kyengera and Kalangala and various allegations of torture of suspects.

In the end, the house voted to censure the minister, in accordance with Article 118 of the Constitution.

This process could culminate in his removal from office, provided the appointing authority — the president — signs off on Parliament’s decision .

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on August 15^th 2OI9 directed the committee to investigate and report to the house the two matters which were raised by Abdulatif Ssebaggala of Kawempe North and Kasiano Wadri of Arua Municipality.

The Committee kicked off its duty to establish four issues including; the existence of safe houses, conditions of safe houses, involvement of security and other agencies in the alleged torture and asking victims whether they were subjected to torture in the safe houses.

The Committee report confirmed that safe houses exist and it was collaborated by Gen. Tumwine who was among the witnesses interviewed by the committee.

Tumwine told MPs that are there to conduct and coordinate intelligence operations.

“Safe houses are there to coordinate clandestine intelligence information including de- briefing intelligence assets, to secure and protect witnesses in danger especially criminals who have turned into witnesses,” said Tumwine.

The minister also told MPs that safe houses are to observe and surveil around hard- core criminals, some of whom have completed prison sentences but remain a threat to the public.

The Committee made three recommendations including holding Tumwine accountable.

“The Minister for Security should be held accountable for failing the Committee work by; a) Denying the committee access to the safe houses b) Blocking its interaction with the Heads of Security Agencies,” read part of the report.

Committee members also noted that security agencies should follow the established procedures of detention of suspects in accordance with Article 23 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

The Committee report however did not exactly call for the censure of Tumwine, who is also an MP, but only said he should be held accountable.

MPs who called for the censure of Tumwine included; Mbwatekamwa Gaffa of Kasambya county (People Power Coordinator), Barnabas Tinkasimiire of Buyaga West, Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye, Moses Kasibante of Rubaga North, Roland Kagina Rukungiri Municipality; Gilbert Olanyah of Kilak north, Betty Muzanira Rukungiri, Elijah Okupa of Kasilo county, Namayanja Florence Namayanja of Bukoto East among others.

According to Tinkasimiire, Parliament has the powers to reign on Tumwine and time has come for him to be censured.

“We have heard enough of this Minister. Ugandans have suffered and no one should stand on our way; Gen. Tumwine should be censured,” said Tinkasimiire.

Finally, Butambala county MP, Mwanga Kivumbi at 07:10 moved a motion to amend the Committee report to include censure of Tumwine.

The motion was unanimously passed without any resistance from the government or NRM side.

Before the motion, the only Minister who spoke was John Byabagambi (Karamoja), who said NRM government doesn’t condone torture and perpetrators should be individually held accountable.

Parliament has powers in article 118 of the Constitution to censure a minister.

Parliament according to the law, may, by resolution supported by more than half of all members of Parliament, pass a vote of censure against a Minister on the grounds of (a) abuse of office or willful violation of the oath of allegiance or oath of office; (b) misconduct or misbehavior; (c) physical or mental incapacity, namely, that he or she is incapable of performing the functions of his or her office by reason of physical or mental incapacity; (d) mismanagement; or (e) incompetence.

Section 2 provides that “Upon a vote of censure being passed against a Minister, the President shall, unless the Minister resigns his or her office, take appropriate action in the matter”.