By Frank Kamuntu
The Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, has addressed the controversy surrounding the absence of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), from a parliamentary committee appearance.
Speaking during a plenary session, Speaker Among clarified that General Muhoozi was never officially summoned by Parliament, stating that such a directive must carry the Speaker’s explicit approval and signature.
“When you say that General Muhoozi was summoned, I did not see the summon,” she said.
“In Parliament, there is only one signature that authorizes a summons — and that is the Speaker’s.”
She emphasized that committee chairpersons do not have unilateral authority to summon individuals to appear before Parliament, noting that any such summons must follow the formal procedure, including clearance and endorsement by the Office of the Speaker.
The issue attracted public attention after a series of controversial remarks made by Gen. Muhoozi on social media in January. In a tweet, he stated:
“I WILL NEVER appear before parliamentary CLOWNS. Instead, I will ARREST them all.”
These comments followed the refusal by the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, chaired by Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko, to review the Ministry of Defence’s budget proposals until the CDF personally appeared to explain his statements. The committee had expressed concern over Muhoozi’s provocative tweets, which included threats directed at opposition figures such as Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and Dr. Kizza Besigye.
In response, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Jacob Oboth apologized for Muhoozi’s absence but distanced the Ministry from his social media activity, stating:
“The Ministry does not manage his handle. These are personal views, and he should be the one to address them.”
However, this explanation did not satisfy committee members. MP Wilson Kajwengye (Nyabushozi County) and Chairperson Nyeko both reiterated the demand for Muhoozi’s personal appearance, citing the potential harm his statements posed to the image of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and to regional diplomacy.
Despite these calls, General Muhoozi did not appear before the committee — and no official action has been taken regarding his defiance.
Speaker Among expressed deep dissatisfaction with the alleged derogatory remarks made by the General. In a firm rebuke, she stated:
“I don’t lead clowns. No one has ever told me that I do. This Parliament is composed of honorable members.”
She called for respect of parliamentary procedures and institutional authority, underscoring that even high-ranking officials must be held to account through the established legal framework.
“If there is a need to summon someone, the proper procedure must be followed — and respected by all,” she said.
