The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among, has suspended several MPs for three consecutive sittings following a scuffle in the Chambers.
In a dramatic interlude, Anthony Akol (Kilak North MP) beat up Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality) following a heated argument over a sitting spot in the Cambers.
This was during a plenary sitting on Wednesday to consider the National Coffee Amendment Bill, 2024, in which MPs would decide whether the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) would be abolished or not.
The chaos started after Akol took over Zaake’s seat to make a point of order on the floor.
When Zaake returned to take up his seat, he found Akol occupying it and tried to push him off.
According to a video shared on social media, Akol is seen punching Zaake and pushing him to the floor.
This is not the first time MP Zaake has been beaten up in parliament.
In 2017, Gen Katumba Wamala ‘punched’ Zaake during the age limit motion scuffle with Special Forces Command (SFC). The elite unit had refused to leave the Parliament chambers when then-Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended them.
And this isn’t the first time Akol is disciplining fellow MPs in the August house.
In January 2020, Akol punched then-Aruu County Member of Parliament, Odonga Otto over claims that Otto was telling Akol’s voters to eject him from the house for selling their land in Amuru to the government.
The two legislators charged at each other as Akol was escorting a group of his electorate that had just visited him at parliament and exchanged blows.
Images from parliament show Zaake being taken to hospital after today’s ordeal with MP Akol.
Speaker Among apologized for the inhumane treatment of Zaake.
“I want to register my apology for what happened to our colleague sincerely, that wasn’t called for. What happened to Zaake wasn’t called for. Following what transpired to Zaake this morning in the House, I will refer to Rule 89 which states that if the Speaker considers that the conduct of the member can’t be adequately dealt with, he/she may name the members,” said Among.
Earlier, Speaker Among evoked Rule 9 and declared a free sitting, given the huge numbers of MPs in the Chambers today.
She ordered the Sergeant at Arms to ensure the suspended MPs were evacuated from the Chambers.
“I am proceeding to name the MPs and suspend these members for three consecutive sittings from this House. The Members are suspended with immediate effect from the House. I am also evoking Rule 88(2) to order the above MPs to withdraw immediately from the House and according to order the Sergeant at Arms that they vacate the Chambers and therefore suspend the House for 15 minutes,” she went on.
The suspended MPs include Akol, Zaake, Frank Kabuye, Derrick Nyeko, Susan Mugabi, Charles Tebandeke, Ronald Kanyike, Shamim Malende, Aloysius Mukasa, Wakayima Musoke, Asinansi Nyakato and Isaiah Ssasaga.
