Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Hon Francis Zaake on Wednesday 18th December 2019 appeared before the Parliamentary Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee to explain the accusations that he attacked Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe in early November at Parliament.
Zaake denied accusations that he threatened to beat up the Makerere University Vice Chancellor while in Parliament premises. He instead says it’s his life that was threatened for fighting for the rights of students.
“As far as I remember I behaved in a very parliamentary manner, I conducted myself well even when the professor threatened my life. I didn’t behave in a way that is very disrespectful.” MP Zaake said.
The Mityana Municipality MP made the remarks while appearing before the Committee that was directed by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to investigate claims that Zaake behaved dishonorably when officials from Makerere University appeared before the Education Committee in November.
Zaake described Nawangwe’s accusations against him as dishonest, malicious and only intended to divert the country from the issues affecting students at Makerere University.
“The unsupported comments from Nawangwe are dishonest, exaggerated and malicious. I behaved in a manner that no reasonable person can interpret as an attempt to physically attack the person of Nawangwe.” He said.
However, Committee Chairperson, Ongalo Obote faulted Zaake for raising issues regarding death threats he received saying he should have raised the matter on the floor of Parliament.
He also told Zaake that the Committee wasn’t going to consider remarks that Nawangwe described MPs as toothless barking dogs who have no capacity to handle issues at Makerere University because there is no evidence to back up these claims.
