KAMPALA – Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake on Monday endured seven hours of interrogation by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on allegations of treason and escaping from police study following the violence in Arua Municipality by-election on August 13.
Mr Zaake, who arrived at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala, on clutches at around 9 am in the company of his lawyers Nicholas Opio and Joseph Luzige, and a host of opposition MPs only managed to leave the place at around 5 pm.
He then addressed journalists, indicating that the investigation was meant to intimidate him.
“Of course, my coming here [CID] was just to abide by the directives because I obey the law. The cases they have against me are all bogus, intended to intimidate me and waste valuable time,” Mr Zaake said.
The MP revealed that he was granted bond and ordered to report back to CID on Wednesday. Zaake, however, said the questioning provided him with an opportunity to gather evidence against the state on his torture.
“They got me from a hotel room, beat me up before dumping me at Lubaga. That is all I know and it is what I told them. Things to do with treason is not my business; let them grapple with their own creations,” Mr Zaake said.
“We are in a rigorous activity of gathering evidence against the people who tortured me. Whatever they say before us is an addition to our own investigations against them,” he added.
He is expected to be added to a charge sheet where 34 other people are facing treason before Gulu Magistrate’s Court.
Mr Zaake said his struggle for a better Uganda will never be blocked by oppression, indicating that he is aware that the struggle may cost his life.
The 27-year-old also suffered severe injuries last year when armed men stormed Parliament as Opposition MPs protested against the removal of the presidential age limit from the Constitution. At the time, he underwent treatment from the United States.
