KAMPALA – The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has tasked the Minister of Internal Affairs, Jeje Odongo to explain to what exactly happened to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake when he was arrested two weeks ago to end up on a hospital bed fighting for his life.
The Speaker made the directive during Tuesday’s plenary sitting where she noted that over the weekend, she paid a visit to the legislator at Lubaga hospital. Zaake informed the Speaker of the different torture acts that were meted on him by Police officers while in their custody.
“I am very concerned about his situation. He was beaten and battered. He told me that pepper spray was sprayed directly in his eyes. He was in Police custody for several days and they must account for his injuries,” said Speaker Kadaga.
Police arrested Zaake last month for allegedly distributing food to the electorate in his constituency, an exercise Police says attracted crowds and went against the Presidential directive on fight against spread of Coronavirus.
“This is a violation of human rights and I direct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to explain to Parliament and the country, the situation of MP Zaake and take action against perpetrators of torture for the MP and other Ugandans. On Thursday, we expect a reply to what happened to MP Zaake and what he is going to do to the perpetrators?” asked Kadaga.
Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Ssekikubo also joined the other MPs in condemning the manner in which Uganda Policea arrested MP Zaake saying it was wrong for the security forces to torture him to that extent and wondered how Parliament was conducting business when one of their own is in hospital fighting for his life.
While updating the nation on Coronavirus, President Museveni strangely warned individuals who interfered with Uganda’s war on COVID-19 through distributing food and condemned Police for its selective implementation of his directives.
The President said, “How do you arrest Zaake (MP) for the same crime and you leave these ones of the NRM who are purchasing food and collecting people?”
