In a statement, Erias Lukwago criticized Parliament for how it handled the Francis Zaake case, saying it was done without proper consideration of the law.
The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago has lashed out at Parliament over how they handled MP Francis Zaake’s case saying it was done without proper consideration of the law.
On Thursday, a total of 155 legislators voted to remove the Mityana Municipality legislator from the Parliament Commission for disrespectful statements aimed at the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among.
This followed after an earlier motion moved by Bardege- Layibi Division MP Martin Mapendizu demanding the removal of Zaake after he allegedly insulted the deputy speaker.
The committee which is the top decision making body of parliament had been investigating Mr Zaake for two weeks over these alleged abusive tweets targeting Among’s position in parliament.
The outcome from this stated that a total of 155 legislators had voted for Zaake’s to step down while four members voted against it.
The tally also registered two invalid votes.
“We ask the Opposition to give us another name,” the Deputy Speaker Among said insisting that Zaake would also be required to apologise to the House within a space of one week.
Speaking about this ruling, however, Lukwago raised criticism in the manner in which this case was handled saying it was out of the law.
Lukwago revealed that the law requires an individual to be charged from within the same area where they have committed an offence.
As a result, he questioned why the legislator Zaake was again requested to issue an apology to the floor of parliament.
“Hon. Francis Zaake is said to have issued the vituperative statement against the Speaker in the social media, why then order him to make an apology on the floor of parliament!?,” he questioned.
“Even if he had been found guilty of using foul language, the law and practice require that the apology ought to be published in the same forum as the impugned statement, that is, social media. Besides, why subject him to double punishment; expulsion from the Parliamentary Commission and an apology!?,” he added.
Meanwhile, at the Parliament rules committee meeting chaired by Abdu Katuntu, the Bugweri county legislator adopted the majority rule on Zaake’s case.
The committee demanded that MP Zaake apologises to the House and the Commission addresses his concern about personal security.
“The MP’s security detail as a Commissioner was withdrawn after he was accused of the above misconduct. The Committee appeals to MPs to act with restraint and decorum both within and outside the precincts of parliament. Each MP bears a duty to give honour and respect to the institution of parliament,” Katuntu read out on Thursday.
