Kampala, (UG): The Constitutional Court in Kampala has quashed a resolution by Speaker of Parliament to remove Mityana Municipality MP, Hon Francis Zaake as a commissioner of Parliament.
The ruling which came out today (Thursday, September 28) pinned Speaker Among on violating the rules of natural justice and taking a decision to dismiss Zaake with no quorum in Parliament at that time of the sitting.
A Joyous Zaake speaking to journalists moments after the ruling vowed to reclaim his position as commissioner of parliament and accused the Speaker of behaving like a dictator and not following the legal procedures of the House she leads.
“It has been cleared today that the legislature as an arm of government that makes the law does not respect the laws it makes. Madam Anita Among is not supposed to be called Right Honorable because she doesn’t follow the law going by the outcome of this case. She has ashamed the Parliament of Uganda. She behaves like a dictator,” Hon Zaake who subscribes to the Opposition National Unity Platform told journalists on Thursday morning.
He added; “She thought she’s untouchable but today she has been touched. As a leader of Parliament, she’s supposed to obey and follow the law. According to the ruling, in this case, I’m still a commissioner.”
Background of the case
Hon Francis Zaake Butebi was March last year dismissed from being a commissioner on the committee of parliament which involves the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker of parliament, and the prime minister on allegations that he insulted Speaker Among through a social media post via Twitter (now X).
Following a report by a report on the Rules, Privileges and Disciplinary Committee chaired by MP Abdul Katuntu found Zaake guilty of insulting the Speaker and a large number of legislators (155 in number) voted to remove him from the parliamentary commission.
In the aftermath of his dismissal, Zaake through his lawyers led by Erias Lukwago petitioned the Constitutional Court to overturn the resolution by parliament, on grounds that the August House passed “the impugned resolution without quorum in the House in contravention of Articles 2(1) and (2), 88 and 94(1) of the Constitution and Rule 110 (6) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure.”
He also claimed that that each member of the Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, who participated in his removal, received a kick-back of Shs6m.
Thursday’s victory in favour of Zaake becomes the second parliamentary resolution to hit a dead end after a resolution earlier to remove Minister Namuganza from her position hit a snag with President Museveni stalling the approval of the parliamentary recommendations to have her dropped from the ministerial role.
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