This is the third time that Parliament is sending Zaake to it's Discipline committee . He was first referred there for missing ten Consecutive Parliamentary sittings and then again sent there for attacking and hurling insults against the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among using his Twitter handle .
Justice Irene Mulyagonja, who delivered the lead judgment, stated, "The Deputy Speaker/Among ought to have resolved the question of her interest in the matter as soon as possible in the public interest as it is required by the Code of Conduct of Members of Parliament in the Rules. When she did not do so, she acted in conflict of interest and reflected that she was biased.”
Lady Justice Eva Luswata and Oscar Kihiika have since replaced Justices Musota and Madrama on the panel. Justice Bamugemereire, the head of the panel apologized to the parties for the delay, saying that it was beyond their control.
The Constitutional Court panel, consisting of Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, Christopher Izama Madrama, Stephen Musota (now elevated to the Constitutional Court), Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, and Irene Mulyagonja, heard Zaake's case and concluded the hearing in June 2022.
On March 10th, 2020, Parliament resolved to remove Zaake from the parliamentary commission for alleged indiscipline. This followed a report made by the Rules, Discipline and Privileges Committee chaired by Abdu Katuntu, which found Zaake in breach of public trust and Parliament decorum.
In his petition, Zaake accuses the Rules Committee members to have received a 6 million shillings worth tax payers money as a reward for participating in the Committee proceedings that resulted into his removal from office.
The report by the Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee of Parliament is a result of a probe that followed a complaint raised by the Bardege-Layibi Division MP, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi who wanted to move a motion for Zaake’s removal from the parliamentary commission.
In its report, the committee confirms that Zaake made statements on his social media accounts of Facebook and Twitter and that the statements brought parliament into disrepute. The committee also says that Zaake was in breach of the rule on public trust and confidence under the Code of Conduct of MPs.
In their written submission to the committee on Tuesday, Zaake’s lawyers, Eron Kiiza and Benjamin Katana challenged the jurisdiction of the committee to investigate matters outside the precincts of parliament.
Zaake appeared before the Rules Committee together with his lawyers Eron Kiiza and Benjamin Katana on Monday. He challenged the jurisdiction of the committee to investigate matters that allegedly happened outside the precincts of parliament.
According to Mapenduzi, Zaake is in breach of the code of conduct for Member of Parliament particular a requirement for members to at all times conduct themselves in a manner, which will maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of Parliament and never undertake any action that may bring the House or its Members, into disrepute.
According to today’s order paper, Mapenduzi is scheduled to move a motion for a resolution of the house under Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda and Section 5 of the Administration of Parliament Act.
Zaake was in April last year held at Mityana Police Station, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters in Mbuya, and at the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka, from where he was transferred to the Japan-Uganda Friendship Hospital in Naguru and later to Kiruddu Hospital in Makindye with bruises which allegedly resulted from torture while in custody. He was released on April 29, 2020, on police bond.
In his affidavit, Mugisha wanted Zaake's case dismissed on grounds that it has no merit. He claimed that when Zaake was arrested for flouting COVID 19 guidelines, he was never taken to any military detention save for the Police Special Investigations Unit.
President Uhuru Kenyatta set the stage for the gradual resumption of congregational worship to take effect in the next three weeks with only 100 congregants allowed to access worship places for services will be restricted to just an hour.
Zaake was transferred from Kiruddu Hospital to Rubaga Hospital last week for treatment following alleged torture. The transfer followed an outcry from his family about the MPs deteriorating health.
This is according to Jacob Opolot, the chairperson of the Education Committee who was this morning appearing before the Rules, Discipline and Privileges committee of Parliament, that is investigating MP Zaake for assaulting and insulting Nawangwe.
