Ugandan police arrested 11 women in parliament on Thursday, charging them with organizing an illegal protest, with some lawmakers suffering injuries in the arrest.
MPs were arrested outside the parliament building in the capital, Kampala, as they prepared to march to the interior ministry, where they were to present the minister with a protest note.
They were protesting what they described as police brutality and the use of excessive force to break up several events organized by women lawmakers in their constituencies in recent weeks.
“I strongly condemn the manner in which police this morning arrested the 11 women members of parliament who were peaceful and unarmed. Some are bleeding and for some, the clothes were torn. It was as if they were arresting terrorists,” parliament’s deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa said on Twitter.
Also, read; Another Kenyan Pastor Arrested Over ‘Deaths’ At His Church
“Their arrest was shamelessly done at the gates of Parliament. So I don’t know if really we are safe if people can be deployed at the gates of parliament just to beat harmless citizens.”
Videos of the fight circulating on social media showed police officers struggling to push the black-clad lawmakers into a truck.
Police spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire denied that officers used excessive force. MPs were accused of resisting arrest and injuring some police officers.
He said they were arrested for taking part in an illegal protest and released on police bail.
Over the years, Ugandan security personnel have often been accused of brutality, particularly towards opponents of veteran leader Yoweri Museveni.
