KAMPALA – Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has returned to Parliament for the first time since he was allegedly attacked by Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake last month.
This time, Prof. Nawangwe was appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline, investigating the November incident.
Then, Nawangwe was appearing before the House Committee on Education and Sports investigating the violent strike by Makerere University students protesting the 15 percent tuition fees increment.
During this meeting, it is alleged that Mr. Zaake continuously asked questions and heckled Mr. Nawangwe and followed him up and verbally attacked him as he exited the committee meeting room.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said Zaake had acted contrary to the House Rules of Procedure on the conduct of members and referred the case to the Committee on Rules on 7 November 2019.
Nawangwe has told the Committee on Rules that Zaake was hostile towards him during and as he exited the meeting.
“Hon. Zaake hurled insults at me saying that if I did not change my attitude while as the VC, he shall make sure that there are more strikes during my reign. His main reason was to intimidate me throughout the whole session,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
He added that the treatment he received from the MP during the meeting was one of intimidation and that he kept making personal submissions that did not relate the subject matter at the time.
Nawangwe said that the conduct of the MP was appalling hence his complaint to the Speaker on the same.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Kenneth Ongalo Obote requested the VC to clarify whether the insults happened inside or outside the committee room.
“We need to know whether all this happened inside the committee room. Do you have an earlier grudge with the member? Were the insults directed to you or your delegation?” he asked.
Prof. Nawangwe said that all the insults happened while in the committee room adding that, “Even when the Members asked him to stop the insults, he continued to point fingers at me almost beating me up”.
The Committee is scheduled to meet with Hon. Zaake on Wednesday 4th December 2019.
