Zaake wants MP Akol to apologise, compensate him for beating

Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Franci Zaake wants Anthony Akol, the Member of Parliament for Kilak North County, to apologise to him on the floor of the house and proceed to compensate him for the assault on him during the divisive Coffee Bill debate.

During the debate to rationalize the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) back to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries on Wednesday, November 6, Akol assaulted Zaake after the two differed over a seat in the house.

Zaake in a letter dated November 7, 2024, through his lawyers Zaake and Company Advocates served to Akol indicated that, “our client avers that on November 6, 2024, during a parliamentary session discussing the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, you Akol physically assaulted and battered our client repeatedly punching him in and around his head, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain injuries,” the lawyers stated.

The lawyers further stated that, “your ( Akol's)  barbaric attack, perpetrated in the presence of other MPs, captured on official parliamentary footage and circulated widely on national and international media, resulted in our client requiring medical attention and suffering both physical and emotional trauma. It also aggravated the trauma occasioned upon him by past incidents of torture.”

By this letter, therefore, we hereby give you formal notice of our client's intention to institute legal proceedings against you in a competent court of law, unless you make immediate amends to fully redress the pain, suffering and indignity occasioned by your misconduct.”

The lawyers demanded that Akol within seven days from the date of receipt of the letter; issue to Zaake an unequivocal apology on the floor of Parliament; make a monetary atonement to Zaake adequate enough to ameliorate the damage and injury occasioned upon him by his violent actions; and pay them 10% of the monetary atonement.

Failure to oblige, the lawyers indicate that  court proceedings will commence against Akol.

Zaake, who has since been discharged from  Nsambya Hospital claims that Akol was paid by the government to assault him.

In a separate interview with New Vision, Akol who shunned calls for apology, instead recommended a mental checkup for Zaake describing him as provocative.

“I don’t have a reason to apologise. If anything, he is the one to apologise to me…You apologize when you are in the wrong. In African tradition, I am more mature than Zaake. If you find me seated, you need to respect me and above all, there was a chair near me. What would be the reason for the man to come and start pushing me that way and call me ‘stupid Acholi man’, why?” he wondered.

The Wednesday incident is not the first time Zaake has being assaulted in parliament.

In 2017, during the Parliamentary debate on the removal of the Presidential age limit, Zaake was hit by Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala after the youthful MP started hurling chairs at security personnel who had rushed into the chaotic chambers after former Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga suspended 24 legislators over alleged breach of rules of procedure.

On Wednesday Speaker of Parliament Anita Among suspended several 12 MPs for three consecutive sittings due to misconduct, following the scuffle. 

She also ordered security to ensure that the suspended MPs are removed from the chambers.

Parliament noted that the suspension was in line with Rule 89 (1), (2) & Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure.

The suspended MPs include Akol (Kilak North, FDC), Shamim Malende (Kampala Woman MP, NUP), Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City Woman MP, NUP), Suzan Mugabi (Buvuma Woman MP, NUP), Isaiah Sasaga (Budadiri East, FDC), Evans Kanyike (Bukoto East, NUP), Charles Tebandeke (Bbale County, NUP), and Aloysius Mukasa (Rubaga South, NUP).