Parliament came to a stand still and members exchanged blows on the floor on Tuesday afternoon, following claims that a gun had been smuggled in the parliamentary chambers.
Fire Arms are not allowed in the chamber.
Members of Parliament on the opposition side claimed one of the MPs had smuggled the fire arm into the chamber and asked that they all move out to be checked again.
The gun was reportedly brought in by Minister Ronald Kibuule. The minister was roughed up by charged opposition MPs and his clothes ripped. No gun was found on him, though.
According to FDC’s Hon Semujju Nganda, Minister Kibuule showed him the gun and threatened to kill him.
“The Minister crossed from the (Government) side and came to this side and and threatened that I was going to face death,” claimed Nganda.
Nganda says the threats were caught on security cameras.
Nganda claimed in the scuffle that ensued, Minister Kibuule was “sandwiched” and the gun disappeared.
“Even now we don’t know who has it.”
The speaker had earlier asked the minister to step out.
“Madam Speaker, for the security of members of this house, I would like to seek your indulgence, for members to leave the chamber to be checked again,” appealed MP William Nzhougu.
“Even in that seat where you are, you are not safe.”
The speaker declined to this motion saying she would not act on speculation.
She said she would review the alleged CCTV footage to ascertain the said threats from Minister Kibuule.
The next several minutes that followed, the situation worsened, as members started chanting “We want guns!!”
Kadaga later ordered the MPs to sit down, for the Sargent at Arms to search each one of them.
The search did not find any gun, and Energy Minister Irene Muloni was asked to proceed as per the order paper, to read an update on the Oil and Gas Sector.