The deputy speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa has sent Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake to parliament’s rules, privileges, and discipline committee to investigate him over alleged derogatory remarks towards Rakai district Woman MP, Juliet Kyinyamatama.
The House was thrown into pandemonium on Thursday afternoon after Kyinyamatama accused Zaake of defaming her and using derogatory remarks while in her constituency on Independence Day.
“The Hon Zaake went to my constituency and used defamatory words against me. I cannot mention the remarks here and I ask that the ICT department plays the video,” the teary Kyinyamatama told parliament.
Saying she could not mention what was said by Zaake, the female MP insisted that the video recording be played in the House for everyone to watch.
Whereas the deputy speaker had initially ruled that the matter be referred to the rules, privileges and discipline committee where all the evidence could be tabled, Kyinyamatama insisted that the video clip be played on the floor of parliament as she shouted in protest.
“An attack on a woman is an attack on all women. The reason I am asking for the video to be played is because I cant say those words. Let the world see what he said. Why are we covering people,” a teary Kyinyamatama said.
Tayebwa intervened saying there were people who had not watch it but said didn’t want to give it “prime time”.
“It was really bad and I didnt want to give it prime time,” he said.
Other MPs joined Kyinyamata in demanding that the video clip be played in parliament, leading to a pandemonium that saw the deputy speaker suspend the House for 10 minutes.
On return, the matter was subjected to a vote where it was agreed that the video be played in the House for everyone to watch.
Meanwhile, Tayebwa informed the House that it had been agreed that the matter be referred to the House’s rules, privileges and discipline committee for investigation.
He also ordered for the transmission of the video to Makerere University for translation into the English language because the words uttered in the video were spoken in Luganda.
The committee was given 45 days to table a report.
However, when business seemed to have resumed, chaos erupted again when a section of female MPs got involved in a scuffle as Kyinyamatama sought to storm the House to attack Zaake.
The deputy Speaker adjourned the House to Tuesday.
Not new to trouble
This is the third time Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake has been in trouble over indiscipline
He has previously been referred to the disciplinary committee for using social media to attack speaker of parliament, Anita Among.
He was consequently dismissed as a parliamentary commissioner but challenged the decision in court which overturned the decision.
