Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has requested Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, to refer Gen Katumba Wamala to the Rules, Privileges, and Discipline Committee due to his involvement in an altercation with Zaake during the heated 2017 debate on the age limit bill.
Ssemujju argued that if Zaake is under scrutiny for his defamatory remarks, then the person who previously attempted to physically harm him should also face an investigation.
During a parliamentary session, some MPs attempted to attack Zaake, accusing him of making defamatory remarks against Rakai District Woman MP, Juliet Kyinyamatama. Opposition MPs intervened to protect Zaake when NRM female MPs ambushed him in an attempt to physically assault him. The Sergeant at Arms and some opposition MPs rescued Zaake and escorted him out.
The deputy speaker referred Zaake to Parliament’s Rules, Privileges, and Discipline Committee to investigate him regarding the alleged derogatory remarks made towards Kyinyamatama.
Chaos erupted in the House when Kyinyamatama accused Zaake of defaming her and using derogatory language while visiting her constituency on Independence Day. Although the deputy speaker initially ruled that the matter should be referred to the rules, privileges, and discipline committee, where all the evidence could be presented, Kyinyamatama insisted that the video clip be played on the floor of the House.
This marked the third instance where Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake faced disciplinary action. Previously, he had been referred to the disciplinary committee for using social media to attack the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among. Consequently, he was dismissed from his position as a parliamentary commissioner but challenged the decision in court.
In 2017, Zaake sustained injuries during a brawl that erupted in Parliament as fellow opposition lawmakers protested the introduction of the controversial age limit motion. A video showed Zaake throwing chairs at rival MPs, after which former army commander Gen. Katumba confronted him and engaged in a physical altercation. However, Katumba denied assaulting Zaake, who maintains that the soldier punched him.
