PARLIAMENT. Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among has opened a fresh war against MP Francis Zaake saying the outspoken legislator’s refusal to return his official car will be handled as a criminal matter.
“The car is with one of your members and we have been looking for that car for a very long time and when we act, people think we are bad. We are going to take it criminally because that is a criminal act,” Ms Among said during the plenary session this afternoon.
Following his sacking from the position of commissioner of parliament, MP Zaake was asked by the speaker of parliament to return the car that had been given to him by virtue of his position which he hasn’t done.
Mr Erias Lukwago, the Kampala City Lord Mayor who doubles as Zaake’s lead lawyer told this publication that since this matter is before the constitutional court pending judgment, Among ought to respect the process and wait for what the court says.
“One of the prayers in our constitutional petition is whether Among acted in the right process to even sack Hon Zaake. It is coming out clear that she is assuming to be above the law and going against a court process. This matter is beyond the realms of the speaker and she should respect the process,” Mr Lukwago said in an interview.
“I know that she is acting because of Zaake’s spirited fight that he put up against the continued abductions of the NUP supporters. Let her not take this path because we are going to file restraining orders in court against her,” he added.
Two days ago, MP Zaake stood up in parliament and protested the continued abductions of members of his party, indicating that the leadership of the august house has not given the matter priority.
The deputy speaker Mr Thomas Tayebwa who was presiding over parliament asked back off the matter but Zaake could not relent but continued to deliberate on the issue with agitation and courage.
Although he was summoned to the disciplinary committee, the Mityana Municipality legislator is yet to report with many political analysts and commentators saying he has represented the common man with zeal and honesty.
In his response to the matter on the floor of parliament this afternoon, opposition whip Mr John Baptist Nambeshe said that he was yet to receive the communication on the matter but would find out from the responsible parties before he gives details.
“I am not in receipt of the letter but when I get it, I will get back to you Madam speaker,” Mr Nambeshe said.