Police Blocks Zaake from Flying to India Pending Clearance by CID

Police has blocked Mityana municipality MP, Francis Zaake from departing from Entebbe airport to India where he was scheduled to travel so as to access specialized medical care.

On Thursday morning, Zaake’s family together with his lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa and Makindye East MP, Allan Ssewanyana checked him out of Lubaga hospital where he had been hospitalized for over a week.

An ambulance then transported him to Entebbe International Airport where he remains in the VIP Departure Lounge.

However, according to lawyer Basalirwa, upon arrival at the airport, security officers told them that the ailing MP required clearance from the CID headquarters in Kibuli before he could be allowed to get on his flight.

“We have been informed by security officers here that he can not be allowed to fly out until there is clearance from CID. So, as of now, he can’t fly,” Basalirwa told NTV Uganda on Thursday afternoon speaking from Entebbe airport.

“We are trying to reach out to the Director of CID but he is not responding to our calls or messages. We are trying to send messages to various government officials, the Prime Minister to see whether this matter can be resolved,” he added.

He insists that Zaake is not a wanted man and wondered why government continues to frustrate his movements.

“As far as we are concerned, Hon Zaake is not wanted. Those who were wanted were arrested, charged and they are out on bail”.

Police recently accused Zaake of escaping from its custody while he was receiving medical treatment in Arua. Kayima said that the MP is likely to have colluded with some medics to escape.

“He had wanted to see a doctor. He said he had a medical condition, so, he was taken to Arua to the hospital. Either he escaped or he was aided to escape and he surfaced in Rubaga hospital,” Kayima said last week.

Asked on the fate of the MP, he said that the next action would be taken after he received his treatment.

However, Basalirwa says: “If he [Zaake] was wanted, they wouldn’t have allowed him to leave the hospital or they would have said so”.

“The letter written by the CID Director talked about taking him to Mulago for further management. It didn’t state that he was under investigation or under arrest”.

Yesterday, Police through its CID Directorate wrote to the authorities at Lubaga hospital asking them to have the legislator moved to Mulago so that he could be examined by specialists.

Basalirwa says there are no plans of taking Zaake back to Lubaga or Mulago, and that if security want to take him, they can pick him and take him wherever they want.

“If government is not careful, Hon Zaake may die, and I don’t know what they will do,” said Basalirwa.

He says that the legislator is scheduled to return from India on September 30 and that upon return, the authorities are free to summon him for questioning.

Zaake attributes his dire state to the torture he was subjected to by security personnel during his arrest in Arua district on August 13. He was among people who were arrested when chaos broke out on the last day of campaigning in the Arua municipality by-election.

Days later, it emerged that he was admitted in Kampala, at Lubaga hospital. He has not managed to sit or walk since then.