Day 2, MP Zaake appears before Rules Committee

The embattled MP for Mityana Municipality Francis Zaake has again appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Rules and Privilages for the second day to explain accusations of abusing fellow legislators and using derogatory statements against the Parliament of Uganda, the same institution that he serves. Zaake was accompanied by his lawyer Erioas Lukwago who is also the Lord Mayor Kampala Capita City and the National Unity Platform Deputy Spokesperson Waiwa Mufumbiro.

Zaake abused Hon Gyavira Ssemwanga the MP for Buyamba in Rakai District and Juliet Kinyamatama the District MP Rakai when he was addressing youths in the same District and also used un honourable lanuage to describe and attack Parliament. Many analysts have accsused Zaake of behaving in a bad way, abusing leaders and generally putting the house in disripute. Zaake has often used his twitter and facebook page to attack, denigrate, abuse and belittle leaders of Parliament and fellow MPs yet he has never uttered any word on the floor of Parliament.

Zaake at Parliament

Zaake has been in Parliament for seven years but is not on record for raising any issue in Parliament except engaging in controversies.   In March 2022, he was impeached for directing abusive language towards the then Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among. In November 2022, Zaake caused another disturbance in Parliament when he seized the microphone without the presiding officer’s authorization, prompting Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa to adjourn the session briefly to restore order. In November 2019, during the 10th Parliament, Zaake was involved in a physical altercation with Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, following a parliamentary committee meeting. This incident led to his removal by other MPs, who urged him to leave the Vice Chancellor alone.

The committee is still investigating the matter and will make a report which will be tabled before Parliament when it is concluded.