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Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Warns MPs Against Debating Presidential Security

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Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Warns MPs Against Debating Presidential Security/courtesy photo

The Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has strongly cautioned Members of Parliament against publicly discussing matters related to President Yoweri Museveni’s security and movements.

This firm warning came during a charged plenary session today, April 15, 2025, after Hon. Derrick Nyeko (Makindye East) raised complaints about presidential convoys causing prolonged road closures allegedly endangering citizens caught in health emergencies.

The exchange which unfolded in Parliament, highlighted rising public frustration over frequent traffic standstills attributed to presidential motorcade routes often sealed off without warning for extended periods.

Nyeko passionately argued that ambulances, pregnant women and critically ill patients are being trapped in jam triggered by VIP security operations.

Hon. Nyeko’s submission came as part of a growing outcry among urban constituencies especially in Kampala and Wakiso where residents regularly encounter impassable roads due to high-level convoys.

 “We are not questioning the President’s security but we are raising a humanitarian concern. People are dying in ambulances because roads are blocked for hours,” Nyeko said, sparking murmurs across the chambers.

In a stern response, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa reminded the House of its boundaries regarding national security.

“Honorable Members, discussions surrounding the security of the President and his movements are highly sensitive and should not be entertained in this House. Let us remain cautious and protect matters of national security,” Tayebwa urged.

He emphasized that while the welfare of Ugandans is paramount, MPs must not venture into areas that could compromise presidential safety, a denial that drew mixed reactions from the public and civil society online.

Ugandans across social media have long criticized the extended, unpredictable road closures caused by presidential or high-profile motorcades arguing they prioritize the comfort of the elite over the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Hospitals have reportedly recorded delays in emergency responses linked to these blockages, raising ethical and political questions around the balance between security and service delivery.

Most complaints stem from busy routes like Entebbe Road, Northern Bypass and key city junctions where traffic is often stopped for up to two hours during presidential movements.

These delays are unannounced and enforced by heavily armed officers leaving little room for negotiation even for ambulances and fire trucks.

While the Deputy Speaker’s directive may silence the debate in Parliament, the voices outside the House are only growing louder.

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