Man Jose Kayima
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa suspended plenary for more than 30 minutes when the Mityana Municipality legislator, Francis Zaake defied his directive over the procedure of raising a matter of national importance.
Zaake had risen on the floor seeking a resolution of the House pertaining to the arrest which many call abduction of a former presidential candidate, Joseph Kabuleta, and Sheikh Ramadhan Mwanja, the Deputy Amir of Jamatil Dawatil Salafiya Tablique Community on Monday.
The two were picked up separately by plain-clothed security personnel driving in omnibuses popularly known as drones.
The Criminal Investigations Directorate has since slapped Kabuleta with charges of sectarianism. Sheikh Mwanje’s whereabouts remain unknown.
It is against the background that Zaake raised the matter in parliament to compel the Government to pronounce itself and denounce the persistent abduction of citizens without following lawful channels.
Like they say once an accident, twice a coincidence and three times a character or pattern,the fiery Mityana MP was again at what he knows best…defiance and lack of respect for anyone except himself.
Zaake who was speaking on top of his voice alluded to the earlier abduction of Jamshid Kavuma, a supporter of the opposition National Unity Platform – NUP party, and bodyguard to their party’s President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and three others.
Attempts by Tayebwa to guide Zaake to first take his seat didn’t yield when the charged Mityana legislator insisted to be allowed to complete his submission.
Tayebwa called on the Opposition Chief Whip, John Baptist Nambeshe to prevail over his member without success.
Chaos ensued and Zaake was whisked out of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Following the resumption of the House after 30 minutes, Tayebwa referred Zaake to the Committee of Rules and Privileges for redress.
Medard Sseggona Lubega, the Busiro County East Constituency legislator who was standing in for Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament warned of more abductions and pleaded with Tayebwa to exercise patience and rescind his anti-Zaake decision.
This is not the first time Zaake has stirred controversy in Parliament.
On March 10, 2022, 155 out of 529 legislators voted to remove Zaake from the Parliamentary Commission for using his social media space to disparage Anita Among who was Deputy Speaker at that time.
The motion to remove Zaake was moved by Bardege-Layibi Division legislator, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi after the House adopted the majority report authored by the Rules, Privileges, and Discipline committee of parliament chaired by Abdu Katuntu, the Bugweri County Member of parliament.
