By Our Reporter
NATIONAL/PARLIAMENT
Bardege-Layibi Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi has filed a notice with the clerk to parliament Adolf Mwesige seeking the removal of Mityana Municipality counterpart, Francis Zaake from the office of the parliamentary commission.
“Pursuant to Rule 56 (1) and 110 of the rules of procedure of parliament of Uganda, I notify you of my intention to move a motion for a resolution of parliament to remove honorable Zaake Francis from the office of commissioner of parliament under section 5 of the Administration of Parliament Act, Cap 257 of the laws of Uganda on grounds of misbehaviour and misconduct,” reads part of the notice.
The February 23 notice is also copied to the speaker and deputy speaker.
“Zaake without exercising the avenues afforded to members in the rules of procedure took to social media and to abuse and insult deputy speaker of parliament of Uganda, describing her conduct in chairing the House as ….”utter bunkum emanating from her dishonest lips was only intended to mock and break (him) down, this is idiocy!…the loose cannon in her couldn’t contemplate the duty that her office owes members and the country at large, disturbingly ejaculated while presiding over a session to condemn torture, aah! How hypocritical, shame upon you!” further reads the notice pinned on parliament’s member’s board.
He attached a copy of the signatures in support of the notice and motion. Legislators mainly from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party have been signing the petition secretly to push for Zaake’s removal from the parliamentary commission, the top most organ of the House.
Last week, media reports indicated that more than 200 legislators had already appended signatures on the petition. The signing process started on Tuesday last week despite a directive by deputy speaker Anita Among to the committee on rules, privileges and discipline to investigate the Zaake for alleged misconduct and use of language out of the decorum of parliament.
The probe, which is chaired by the Bugweri County MP, Abdu Katuntu officially started on Tuesday this week with the complainants led by Mapenduzi interfacing with the committee. The others were Jonathan Ebwalu (Soroti West Division), Geoffrey Macho (Busia) and Mary Annet Nakato (Buyende Woman). Zaake is expected to appear before the committee on Monday next week after he sought more time to interface with the investigating team.
Rules of Procedure
Rule 56 provides for notice of motions and states that no motion shall be moved unless the member moving it has given written notice to the speaker and the clerk not less than three days previous to the sitting at which the member intends to move the motion. Rule 110 provides for the removal of a commissioner and outlines the necessary processes to be followed.
At least 176 MPs are needed to move the motion for the removal of a commissioner from office. For the motion to succeed after the debate, the party needs a majority. If it reaches that stage, the NRM can comfortably remove Zaake as it enjoys a majority in the 11th parliament with 336 MPs while the opposition political parties have only 109 MPs.
The biggest opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP) nominated Zaake to the parliamentary commission as a back-bench member. The other three back-bench commissioners are from the NRM.
The commission is composed of the speaker as chair, and also has the deputy speaker (Anita Among), Prime Minister (Robinah Nabbanja), Leader of Opposition (Mathias Mpuuga), Government Chief Whip (Thomas Tayebwa), and Finance minister (Matia Kasaija).
