Vice President Jessica Alupo has confirmed that Amuria District Woman Member of Parliament Margaret Etilu is in police detention, days after her reported arrest under unclear circumstances triggered concern among legislators.
Etilu, an NRM legislator, was reportedly picked up on May 23, 2026, from the residence of Speaker Anita Among, although details surrounding her arrest and the reasons for her continued detention remain largely undisclosed.
Addressing Parliament, Alupo sought to reassure MPs that Etilu is safe and in stable condition, even as pressure mounts for greater transparency over the matter.
“Margaret Etilu, the Woman MP for Amuria, is my daughter. She is a sister to some of you. We all know she is being detained, but the clarification I want to make is that she has met some of her family members and they were permitted to interact with her,” Alupo said.
She added that the legislator is expected to be released within the week following engagements between government officials and law enforcement authorities.
“We have been speaking to law enforcement officers, both on phone and physically. We didn’t want to involve cameras,” she said, suggesting efforts to handle the matter discreetly.
According to the Vice President, assurances from the police indicate that Etilu could rejoin Parliament “any time this week,” although no official explanation has been provided for her arrest or the charges, if any, she faces.
The lack of clarity has drawn quiet concern within political circles, with some legislators questioning the circumstances under which a sitting MP can be detained without public disclosure.
Etilu, who represents Amuria District in eastern Uganda, entered Parliament on a platform focused on improving livelihoods, particularly for women and youth in the Teso sub-region.
Her work has largely centred on poverty alleviation, access to education and community development—issues that resonate strongly with her rural constituency.
Before joining Parliament, she built her political profile through grassroots mobilisation and local leadership, earning a reputation as a community-oriented organiser.
While she has maintained a relatively low national profile in Parliament, her reported detention has abruptly thrust her into the spotlight, raising broader questions about accountability, due process and the treatment of public officials.
As calls grow for clarity, the episode is likely to test both the government’s commitment to transparency and the confidence of the public in the institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law.
