By Davis Mugabi
Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga has described as ambiguous a motion being fronted to oust Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality) from the Parliamentary Commission.
According to Mpuuga, the motion contravenes Rule 107 clauses 2 to 7 which demands a written notice for at least 1/3 of MPs with voting rights to sign.
“It remains unclear how the 1/3 of MPs was notified & persuaded to sign the petition which was never displayed for 14 days as required by the Rules of Procedure. The motion abuses the requirements of Rule 110(5),” Mpuuga said, adding that “it also compromises transparency & compliance to Rules 110(2) & 107(5) + the rule of Natural Justice which demands fair hearing.”
The Opposition platform will maintain its ongoing boycott of #PlenaryUg, Mpuuga said.
A section of MPs are reportedly scheduled to move a motion today seeking the removal of Zaake, from the Parliamentary Commission office.
The Parliamentary Commission is the top most decision making organ of the House established under Article 87A of the Constitution.
Zaake was at the beginning of the 11th Parliament last year chosen by the Opposition biggest party in House – the National Unity Platform (NUP) to sit on the Parliamentary Commission as a back-bench member.
According to Tuesday’s order paper, Bardege-Layidi Division MP, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi will move a motion for a resolution of parliament under Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda and Section 5 of the Administration of Parliament Act.
The motion is to be seconded by MPs Agnes Atim Apea, the Amolatar Woman representative, Soroti West Division MP Jonathan Ebwalu and Busia Municipality MP Geoffrey Macho.
Rule 110 of the Parliament Rules of Procedure and Section 5 of the Administration of Parliament Act provide for the removal of a commissioner.
Sources indicate that the item on the order paper is targeting MP Zaake for attacking the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among on his Twitter handle on Wednesday last week.
“To my consternation, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament while presiding over a session of parliament controverted the finding of High Court in Suit No. 85 of 2020 that I was tortured by sarcastically stating but with the utmost level of recklessness that though tortured, Won a medal in E.A @Parliament_Ug games,” reads part of Zaake’s tweet.
He further blamed Deputy Speaker Among for failing in her duty towards legislators and the country at large.
“The utter bunkum emanating from her dishonest lips was only intended to mock and break me down, this is idiocy! Parliament deserves better, how a person of her caliber lack intelligent prowess to appreciate that healing is a natural phenomenon,” reads part of Zaake’s tweets.
The tweets were in response to Among’s comment about Zaake, made during a Tuesday 8th debate on a torture statement tabled by the Acting Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Muruli Mukasa.
The Deputy Speaker’s comment followed a submission by Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko who said that some members of the House are on recorder for having been tortured. He cited MP Zaake saying that even court ruled in his favor and that he is awaiting compensation.
