Lawyers representing Francis Zaake, the Member of Parliament for Mityana Municipality, have formally requested the Clerk to Parliament to restore his position as a commissioner for Parliament. This request follows a recent Constitutional Court ruling that overturned Parliament’s resolution to remove Zaake from this role, citing allegations of insulting the then Deputy Speaker, now Speaker Anita Among.
In their communication dated October 2, lawyers from Lukwago and Co-Advocates referred to the Constitutional Court’s judgment in Constitutional petition No. 06 of 2022 (Hon. Francis Zaake Vs Attorney General), which nullified Parliament’s March 10, 2022 resolution to dismiss Zaake as a Commissioner of Parliament. The lawyers stated, “This, therefore, is to demand that Parliament immediately restore our client’s access to his office as a commissioner of Parliament, restore to our client any and all privileges he is entitled to, including but not limited to an official vehicle, a fuel card, and monthly honoraria.”
Additionally, the lawyers have requested that all unpaid allowances owed to Mr. Zaake since last March be settled.
The recent Constitutional Court decision, with a majority decision of 4:1, found that the quorum required for the resolution to relieve MP Zaake of his duties was not met in Parliament. The court also noted a conflict of interest when Speaker Anita Among chaired the parliamentary proceedings leading to Zaake’s impeachment.
The dispute arose when Zaake, representing the National Unity Platform, challenged his removal as a Commissioner of Parliament. It stemmed from an incident during a parliamentary debate in February 2022 when Deputy Speaker Among commented on Zaake’s ability to win a gold medal despite suffering a broken leg. This comment led to a social media exchange between Zaake and Among, ultimately resulting in his removal as a Commissioner of Parliament based on findings by the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline.
