Controversial Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake has been referred to the Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee of Parliament for investigations after he threatened to beat up Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
In her communication to the August House today, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga reminded MPs that Rule 83 prohibits members from using unparliamentarily language which entails use of abusive, offensive, insulting, blasphemous or to impute improper motives on any member or to make personal allusions.
“Over the last two days, there are some members of this house who have brought this house into disrepute in the Committees. We know that we are expected to carry out investigations and in doing so, we must observe rules of natural justice. On Tuesday when the Minister of Education appeared before the Education Committee, Zaake conducted himself in a very disputable manner and this was repeated yesterday when the delegation from Makerere University came in. Although we are allowed to attend Committees in which we aren’t members, we can’t take on role of prosecutor,” Kadaga said.
The Speaker added that when MPs were given opportunity to ask questions to the Makerere University management, Zaake demanded that his issues are answered first before any other person and kept on interjecting when Nawangwe was answering.
Zaake is further accused of ignoring the chairperson of the committee.
“Despite several attempts, Zaake continued with the unruly manner and failed to obey the Chairperson, he was actually very uncontrollable. I was informed at one point, Basalirwa tried to intervene but this wasn’t heeded. Unfortunately, it didn’t end in the Committee I have viewed footage of the departure of Nawangwe. Zaake followed him, heckling him, insulting him and threatening to beat him,” said Kadaga.
While making her ruling, the Speaker said, “He has breached our code of conduct and therefore lowered public trust in this institution. I refer this matter to our Committee of Rules for further investigations and should make appropriate recommendations to the house within two weeks.”
At the meeting with Makerere management, Zaake accused Nawangwe of planting spies among students by starting intimate relationships with female students and that Nawangwe was calling parents of striking students and intimidating them.
It isn’t the first time the Zaake’s conduct has raised concern having featured most among MPs who indulged in violent fights during age limit fight.
During voting of leaders of Buganda caucus at the start of the 10th Parliament, Zaake exhibited the violent character, which prompted Matthias Kasamba (EALA Representative) to curse Zaake that he would end up badly because of his conduct.
