Here’s Why Bobi Wine Friend Could Lose His Juicy Job

Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, a close friend and member of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s NUP party, could lose his coveted ‘Commissioner of Parliament’ job over her ‘insults’ to deputy speaker Anita Annet Among. 

During February 15 plenary, Ojara Mapenduzi (Bardege-Layibi Division MP – Independent) has raised a matter of national importance under Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure to remove Zaake from the Parliamentary Commission.

Mapenduzi argued that  if Zaake had been disappointed with Among’s words or actions,  he should have explored avenues provided for in the rules of Procedures rather than using social media which breached Rule 84 of the Rules of Procedures of Parliament.

A number of MPs seemed to agree with Mapenduzi.

Jonathan Ebwalu (Soroti West – Independent) noted that any attack on the office of speaker was an attack on the institution of parliament.

According to Ebwalu, Zaake’s comments on social media were intended to demean the office of the speaker and Parliament which all MPs should defend.

Amolatar Woman MP (NRM) Agnes Atim Apea looked at the attacks from a gender angle.  .  “Any attack on a woman, is an attack on all the women,” said Apea.

“When you abuse the authority of Parliament and the authority the Speaker of Parliament that you sit in, you are like someone setting fire on a house that you are in,” submitted Geoffrey Macho (Busia Municipality – Independent)

“The message and matter raised by Hon. Mapenduzi makes my cry tears that make fear to go and address my people as a honourable member. I keep on asking myself whether some members are honourable by accident.”

Government chief whip Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North – NRM) said: “We were really really shocked when we saw such words being written about Number five in the country a position, maybe some of who have never tried to attain don’t know what it means. It is a position we should protect jealously.”

In the end, deputy speaker Among referred the matter to the committee of Rules, Privileges and Discipline under Rule 175 to handle and report back within two weeks.