Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake, recently faced the House committee on rules and discipline to address allegations against him. His lawyer, Erias Lukwago, firmly expressed the need for clear and detailed information regarding the accusations to mount an effective defense.
During the committee’s session, Mr. Lukwago emphasized the importance of having access to precise facts and particulars about the alleged misconduct on the part of Mr. Zaake. Without such essential information, crafting a comprehensive defense becomes a challenging task.
Mr. Lukwago elaborated, “These are the preliminary matters we intended to raise, which makes it extremely difficult for us to proceed with the case and prepare a defense.” He stressed the importance of knowing who is making the allegations and the specific actions that led to the alleged breach of conduct or rules.
The disciplinary action stems from events that occurred on November 29, 2022, when Mr. Zaake attempted to reopen a debate concerning the abduction of Opposition supporters by state security agents. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, during a heated exchange, referred Mr. Zaake for disciplinary action due to his insistence on the issue. However, Mr. Zaake’s lawyer maintained that it is impossible to provide a meaningful response without the specifics of the alleged infraction.
Mr. Lukwago emphasized the need for allegations to be particularized and substantiated, drawing a parallel with the practice in courts where accusations must specify the misconduct and the rules violated.
In addition to the request for clarity on the allegations, there was also a question about whether Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa would appear before the same committee in the future. The Rules Committee chair, Abdu Katuntu, humorously advised that the decision on who would testify lies within the committee’s discretion.
Hearings on the matter are expected to continue, and the committee is set to meet Mr. Zaake and his legal team on another disciplinary matter involving Juliet Kinyamatama, the Rakai District woman MP, who claimed that Mr. Zaake had demeaned her with offensive words on Independence Day.
Mr. Zaake’s history with the Rules Committee is noteworthy, as he has been referred to it on multiple occasions. In February 2022, Speaker Anita Among referred him for alleged abuse on social media, leading to his removal from the Parliamentary Commission. However, the Constitutional Court later overturned the decision, citing a lack of quorum during the resolution and the violation of rules of natural justice by Speaker Among, leading to an ongoing legal battle as the Attorney General appealed the judgment.
