Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Privileges & Discipline has officially begun its investigation into allegations of defamatory statements made by MP Francis Zaake of Mityana Municipality against Juliet Kinyamatama, the Woman MP of Rakai District. The committee, chaired by Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu, has convened to outline the procedures for conducting the hearings.
Katuntu addressed concerns about the committee’s jurisdiction to investigate matters that occurred outside Parliament, urging those with doubts to read the constitutional court ruling related to a case filed by Zaake against the Attorney General.
The constitutional court has already ruled on the matter in Zaake’s case against the Attorney General, and Katuntu emphasized that the judgment is available for reference. He stated, “The constitutional court has examined this issue, and I don’t want to read for people who are unwilling to read.”
Last week, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa chaired a session in which Zaake, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was referred to the Discipline Committee due to allegations of misconduct. This marks the second time Zaake has been referred to this committee.
Rule 91(1) of the Rules of Procedure allows a presiding officer to refer defamatory statements to the discipline committee, which is chaired by Katuntu in this case.
The allegations against Zaake stem from a video dated October 9, 2023, in which he is purportedly heard defaming Rakai District Woman MP Juliet Kinyamatama Ssuubi in her political constituency. The video, circulating on social media, shows Zaake berating constituents for electing Kinyamatama.
Kinyamatama described the video’s content as extremely demeaning and unpleasant to the human ear.
Before playing the video for the legislators, there was a contentious debate, with opposition members voicing concerns that investigating matters outside the Parliament’s premises could set an unfavorable precedent. Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Semujju Nganda from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) questioned whether Parliament’s rules, which uphold decorum, allow for the screening of a member’s uttered words that should not be said.
The resistance from the opposition prompted the Speaker to briefly adjourn the House for ten minutes to address the tensions.
