Kampala, (UG): The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Thomas Tayebwa was Thursday compelled to temporarily suspend the plenary until next week after a section of MPs attempted to lynch Mityana Municipality MP, Hon Francis Zaake over demeaning statements he made against Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama.
Tempers rose on Thursday when MP Kinyamatama requested the Parliament to intervene in what she described as defamatory and insulting words used by MP Zaake against her during one of the demonstrations staged in Rakai District on Independence Day (October 9).
“I raise on a matter of procedure. On the 9th of October one of our members, the Hon Zaake [went to my constituency] and used defamatory words against me. I cannot mention the remarks here and I ask that the ICT department play the video,” said MP Kinyamatama.
It is alleged that Zaake was caught on camera saying that Kinyamatama is a disgrace to Parliament because she was engaged in prostitution.
“Don’t you see that whoever goes to him (Museveni) must undergo a COVID test? He has illnesses. You people do not even have MPs here. They do nothing save from sweating in chairs,” Zaake was caught on camera saying.
He added, “We also have this Nalumansi (Kinyamatama), as if she went to Parliament for prostitution. She is wicked. They have rendered Parliament useless. We expect you to send better MPs than this one.”
Tayebwa had initially ruled to have the matter forwarded to the Parliament’s Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee where all the said clips and other evidence would be tabled but Ms Kinyamatama protested shouting “An attack on me is an attack on all women,” something that sparked an uproar with some MPs insisting that the clip be played in House while other objected it.
The Deputy Speaker immediately put the matter to a vote on whether to have it played or not. The video was eventually played in plenary.
However, while it was being played, rage piled up something that compelled the Speaker to suspend plenary. “Hon members, House suspended for 10 minutes,” Mr Tayebwa said.
As Zaake made his way out of the parliamentary chambers, the NRM female MPs ambushed him in an attempt to beat him up, but the Sergeant at Arms and some opposition MPs rescued him and moved him out.
The development comes barely a month after the constitutional court ordered Zaake’s reinstatement as a commissioner in Parliament.
Zaake, who subscribes to the Bobi Wine-led NUP was in March 2022 impeached by fellow MPs for demeaning the person of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Annet Among, although he went on to file a constitutional petition challenging the manner in which he was removed from the Office of Commissioner of Parliament and he eventually won.
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