The door to the gallery was locked at the time journalists arrived as usual to gain admission and set up their gadgets before the plenary kick off.

However, no explanation as to why they were prohibited was provided.

As a result, the proceedings of today will not be broadcast anywhere, not even by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), the country’s official broadcaster.

The anti-riot police were also seen extensively present all over the location.

This occurs at the same time that Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, abruptly suspended five opposition MPs amid dissent, without any reason.

Those who were suspended include: Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality), Joyce Bagala (Mityana District Woman MP), Derrick Nyeko (Makidye East), and Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South MP), all members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.

This is said to have resulted from the Government’s explanation of the recent interception of their NUP’s leader Robert Kyagulanyi at Entebbe International Airport upon his arrival in Uganda on October 5, 2023.

Later, he was driven back to his residence in Magere, Mukono district.

To welcome their leader, the NUP supporters had planned a march of one million people to Entebbe, but it proved impractical, after he was intercepted.

Due to this, the opposition MPs, led by Mathias Mpuuga, the leader of the opposition, were forced to leave the chamber and promised not to return until the government provided an explanation for why Kyagulanyi was intercepted and the arrest of the other 14 NUP members.

According to reports, Tayebwa and opposition leaders met in parliament again to discuss the suspension and disappearance of the video footage that was meant to play in the house and show the severity of the security measures utilized.

After the State Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, gave an explanation, the Mpuuga sought that the Deputy Speaker permit him to play a video tape to summarize his statement.

However, a group of MPs from the ruling NRM party objected to the action.

However, despite Tayebwa’s approval, Mpuuga video upload was unsuccessful in playing. He claimed that the IT staff was sabotaging him.

Later, Tayebwa put the issue up for a vote on whether or not to play Mpuuga’s video. But the NRM won the vote and blocked its play; the opposition reacted angrily, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house until today (October 18, 2023).

There have reportedly been discussions with the Deputy Speaker since. Since journalists were denied entry, nobody currently knows what is going on in the house.