Who is Francis Zaake Butebi? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, early life, wife, education, family, Namirembe Bridget, Mityana Municipality, National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, work and experience of a Ugandan businessman and politician.
Francis Zaake Butebi is a Ugandan businessman and Member of Parliament representing Mityana Municipality in the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. He was first elected to the position in the 2016 general elections on an independent ticket.
However, in late 2020, Zaake joined the National Unity Platform (NUP) headed by Hon Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the leading opposition party in Uganda.
He contested for Mityana Municipality parliamentary seat on the NUP ticket in the 2021 general election and won the seat for the second term.
After winning the Mityana Municipality MP seat, Zaake was voted a Commissioner of Parliament representing opposition MPs in Parliament. Unfortunately, in March 2022 Zaake was voted out by the parliament over misconduct.
Early Life and Education
Francis Zaake was born on 12 January 1991 at Butebi Village, Mityana District to Emmanuel Ssembuusi Butebi and Teddy Naluyima.
He is the firstborn in a family of 12 children; eight girls and four boys.
Zaake attended Fairway Primary School, in Mityana District, where he obtained his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) Certificate in 2006, Mityana Modern Secondary School, obtaining his Uganda Certificate of Education in (UCE) in 2010 and then Merryland High School, Entebbe where he obtained his A’ Level certificate in 2012.
Thereafter, Zaake joined Ndejje University, in Luweero District, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement and Logistics Management.
Political Career
Francis Zaake’s political career began while at Ndejje University, where he served as the Student’s Guild President for the academic year 2015/2016, and his final year at the university.
Zaake was a prime campaigner of the People Power Movement, headed by Bobi Wine and also during Bobi Wine’s 2021 presidential campaigns.
This was after winning the Mityana Municipality parliamentary seat in 2016, for the first time on an independent ticket.
Zaake got severely injured after being assaulted by Uganda Police officials and the military during the Arua Municipality by-elections, Arua District conducted on 15 August 2018 following the death of Hon Ibrahim Abiriga.
As a result, Zaake sought specialized medical attention in India.
Also, in September 2018, Zaake was charged with treason, while still nursing the wounds he sustained at the hands of Uganda’s security forces.
Later, in late 2020, Zaake joined the National Unity Platform (NUP) headed by Hon Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the leading opposition party in Uganda. He contested for Mityana Municipality parliamentary seat on the NUP ticket in the 2021 general election and won the vote.
After winning the Mityana Municipality MP seat, Zaake was voted a Commissioner of Parliament representing opposition MPs in Parliament. Unfortunately, in March 2022, Zaake was voted out by the parliament over misconduct in a secret ballot conducted by legislators.
The vote followed a debate on the report of the committee that found Zaake in breach of public trust and confidence.
Zaake was probed for statements he made on social media disparaging the then Deputy Speaker, Anita Among now the Speaker of Parliament following the death of the then Speaker, Jacob Lokori Oulanyah.
In April 2020, Zaake got arrested by police for distributing food items to his neighbours in Mityana District as COVID-19 relief after a lockdown was instituted all over the country.
According to police, Zaake violated COVID-19 measures and guidelines instituted by the national task force that was led by the then Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda regarding food distribution to the vulnerable communities in Uganda.
Family
Hon Francis Zaake is married to Namirembe Bridget and together they have children.
