Rules committee fails to pin MP Zaake
Mr Francis Zaake, the Mityana Municipality MP
The Committee on Rules Privileges and Discipline of Parliament has recommended that Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Francis Zaake be cautioned for his conduct towards Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.
The committee completed its investigations into the conduct of Mr Zaake who reportedly insulted Prof Nawangwe for failing to answer his questions during an inquiry into a students’ strike that paralyzed Makerere University, last year.
Prof Nawangwe was appearing before the Education Committee of Parliament to defend a decision to increase by 15 percent the cumulative tuition for new students, which action sparked a strike.
In a report, committee chairperson, Mr Clement Obote Ongalo, said that there was no sufficient CCTV footage evidence to pin Mr Zaake on his alleged attempt to assault Prof Nawangwe.
He, however, said in the report that the limited video evidence does not affect the evaluation of the general evidence.
“As a policy, CCTV cameras in Parliament did not cover the Conference Hall, committee rooms and offices. The lack of CCTV coverage in the committee room in this particular case, does not affect the evaluation of the other evidence,” Mr Ongalo said.
Mr Ongalo, however, said that based on testimonies of the Education Committee chairperson, Mr Jacob Opolot, MP Emmanuel Ongiertho and Prof. Nawangwe, Mr Zaake should be cautioned against questionable behaviour in light of the Code of Conduct.
A caution would mean that the Speaker of Parliament would issue a strong warning to Mr Zaake stating clearly that if he doesn’t reform, he would face severe punishment.
The highest form of punishment for misconduct is an admonishment, were the MP is reprimanded and rebuked and shamed while standing at the bar in the chambers.
Committee members in their recommendations called for the instalment of more security cameras in Parliament to cover all rooms where committee sessions are conducted.
It also recommended that committee chairpersons should apply rule 87 of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure on the suspension of a member who behaves in unparliamentary manner.
