đŸ“· Lord Mayor Lukwago contests evidence in Zaake probe

Nov 08, 2023

According to him, the records appear to have been slightly doctored to meet the desired purpose of the complainant in this specific matter who is the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa.

Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake during a meeting with the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee at Parliament. Photos by Miriam Namutebi

Dedan Kimathi
Journalist @New Vision

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has raised doubt about the authenticity of evidence Parliament adduced in the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

For a week now, Zaake in the company of his lawyers Lukwago and Marvin Saasi have been appearing before the Rules, Discipline and Privileges Committee chaired by Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County, NUP) on two separate cases of indiscipline.

Erias Lukwago, Lawyer to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake during a meeting with the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament.

Erias Lukwago, Lawyer to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake during a meeting with the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament.

Key among these include a scenario that transpired on November 29, 2022. On this fateful day, it is alleged that Zaake abused the Rules of Procedure when he hijacked the microphone to raise a matter of national concern without Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa’s discretion.

Despite efforts of the Opposition Chief Whip John Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya County, NUP) and several colleagues, the latter remained fixated on the floor after he had been ordered to sit down. Consequently, Tayebwa adjourned the House for five minutes to consult.

Members of Parliament on the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee watch a video clip from one of the plenary sessions at Parliament. This was om 08 November 2023 during one of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

Members of Parliament on the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee watch a video clip from one of the plenary sessions at Parliament. This was om 08 November 2023 during one of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

The matter, however, was shelved until last month when Zaake yet again landed himself in trouble over vile remarks he made about Rakai Woman MP Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama (NRM) during Independence Day celebrations in the latter’s political backyard.

Consequently, all the two cases are concurrently being handled by the Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee chaired by Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County, Indep).

Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake reads the rules of procedure during a meeting with the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament.

Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake reads the rules of procedure during a meeting with the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, Lukwago punched holes in the information submitted by Moses Bwalatum, the Editor of the Hansard.

According to him, the records appear to have been slightly doctored to meet the desired purpose of the complainant in this specific matter who is the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa.

Suffice it to note that the Hansard is an acronym for transcripts of Parliamentary debates and many Commonwealth countries. It derives its roots from Thomas Curson Hansard, a London Printer who was the first official printer to Parliament at Westminster. Curson lived between 1776 and 1833 in what Historians call the ‘Age of Enlightenment’.

 Point of contention

According to Lukwago, the presiding officer’s ruling on that respective day was void of the word ‘action’ that somehow ended on the Hansard and eventually is being adduced as evidence. This is after it emerged that Bwalatum’s records contradict a 15-minute video evidence that was submitted by a Parliamentary staff Paul Mutosi.

Lukwago asked Bwalatum whether he participated in the preparation of the Hansard to which the latter answered in the affirmative.

“Do you have the copy of that Hansard and does it ring any bell to you? Did you participate in preparing the same?” he asked.

“That’s my job as Editor of the Hansard….It is prepared on the very day of the sitting. It starts with the recording, then transcription starts the same day,” Bwalatum clarified. 

Lukwago then implored him to read the content to the MPs on the committee which turned out to be slightly twisted.

“Now look at page 6445 about the ruling of the Speaker. Just read that,” he requested.

“As per Rule 175 of our Rules of Procedure, I refer Hon. Zaake to the Committee of Rules, Privileges and Discipline for disciplinary action,” Bwalatum noted.

Moses Bwalatum, Editor Parliament Hansard appearing before the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament on issues related to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

Moses Bwalatum, Editor Parliament Hansard appearing before the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee on 08 November 2023 at Parliament on issues related to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

To illustrate his fears, Lukwago asked the Committee to play the 15-minute video footage that was captured by CCTV.

"Have you heard yourself in the statement of the Speaker, the word action? Has the Speaker talked about action?..... Did you quote the Speaker verbatim or it was polished up or edited?” Lukwago posed.

“Those speeches are edited for clarity only. However, the member’s contribution in the House is picked as it is verbatim,” Bwalatum responded.

Abdu Katuntu, Chairperson of the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee chairs a session at Parliament on 08 November 2023.

Abdu Katuntu, Chairperson of the Parliament's Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee chairs a session at Parliament on 08 November 2023.

Concerns

According to Kole North MP Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, the consistency in the document which is widely regarded as the most accurate representation of plenary proceedings raises grey areas.

“I want to inquire what are the best international practices when coming up with Hansard. I have seen in different Parliaments the Hansard is defined as not a verbatim, but a mere verbatim whereby you retain the spoken word and also retain the substance of the matter itself. I also note that the Hansard doesn’t capture gestures or facial expressions. So I want you to be very clear that this Hansard is a mere verbatim and that is why we have the terminology Editor of the Hansard,” Acuti intimated.

The matter was rested by Committee Chairperson Abdu Katuntu on account that extensively debating this matter will water down observations in the final report.

“They are the basis of our decision, I don’t want us to be here like we are arguing a case, not that I need any applause for Zaake. I am only doing my job so I think we are done with the editor of the Hansard. The rest about what goes on in other Parliaments in the Commonwealth and so on, leave that to us, we shall find out,” Katuntu implored.

Help us improve! We're always striving to create great content. Share your thoughts on this article and rate it below.

Comments

No Comment


More News

More News

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});