Zaake forwarded to Rules,Disciplinary Committee
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon Anita Among has forwarded Parliamentary Commissioner and Mityana Municipality MP Hon Francis Zaake to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline for attacking her on social media.
A section of legislators put Zaake on the spot for using abusive language against the person of the Speaker following statements he uttered last week on twitter. Zaake was responding to Hon Among’s statements during plenary regarding his alleged torture.
The MPs claim he insulted the integrity of Parliament by using offensive language to express his dissatisfaction with the Deputy Speaker’s statement breaching Rules 84 and 85 of the Rules of Procedure and Paragraph 5 of the Code of Conduct of Members.
Hon Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (Bardege-Layibi Division) raised a matter of National Importance with intent to move a motion to have Zaake relieved of his duties as a commissioner .
“All of us may have our own emotions and issues to deal with but there are avenues in our Rules of Procedure through which anything done by the presiding officer can be challenged. The member never exercised any of the remedies provided in the rules but chose to go to social media,” Mapenduzi said
Zaake forwarded to Rules,Disciplinary Committee
Among was reacting during the 8th debate on a torture statement tabled by the Acting Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Muruli Mukasa.
“Much as he was tortured, he was able to give us a gold medal, he ran at the East Africa Parliamentary games, and won the medal for Parliament of Uganda and with a broken leg. I am appreciating my member that he brought us a gold medal,”Among spoke amidst giggles from other legislators.she said on Tuesday last week.
Hon Mapenduzi lays a copy of the tweets that were on Hon Zaake’s twitter handle
Deputy Speaker, Anita Among referred the matter to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline for further investigations.
“Our Constitution dictates a fair hearing before a decision is taken as we continue with other processes. I will therefore, guide that this matter is referred to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline and the committee must report back within two weeks,” Among said.
She said that whereas under normal circumstances, she was supposed to step aside from presiding over a matter that involves her personality, she had to do so because the Speaker is still indisposed.
Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure states that a Member of the Commission, other than the Speaker or the Leader of Government Business, Leader of the Opposition or the Minister of finance may be removed from office by Parliament for incompetence, misconduct insanity or inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising from infirmity of body or mind.
Zaake was last year chosen by the Opposition biggest party in House – the National Unity Platform (NUP) to sit on the Parliamentary Commission as a back-bench member.
Members of the Commission principally include the Speaker Jacob Oulanyah (Chairperson), Deputy Speaker Anita Among, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, Government Chief Whip Thomas Tayebwa and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.
