Parliament to pay for Zaake, Nambooze treatment abroad

Oct 10, 2017

Zaake who said he suffered head injuries, commended Kadaga for visiting him.

 

Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga talks to MP Francis Zaake at his home.

Calling it a gesture of reconciliation, Opposition MPs have commended the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, for visiting their homes. Kadaga visited Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, on Sunday at Mutundw, Kampala, where he is recuperating after he was discharged from Rubaga Hospital, Kampala.

In company of Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the Speaker also visited Rubaga North MP Moses Kasibante, whose home was attacked by an unknown person who hurled a grenade at his house.

The Police have since confirmed that the attackers used factory made grenades, similar to the ones used in the attacks on two other legislators.

The others, whose homes were attacked on October 3, are Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana of Lukuli and Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).

 

The visit

Okupa informed New Vision yesterday that Kadaga would be visiting more Opposition MPs who were either affected by the fracas in Parliament when security operatives ejected MPs from Parliament chambers or had grenades thrown at their homes.

"The Speaker is like a mother to all MPs. As the head of Parliament, she decided to visit them. Some people thought there is enmity between her and the MPs," Okupa stated.

He said Kadaga expressed concern that the Police who had been deployed at Kasibante's home had been withdrawn. Okupa also revealed that Kadaga pledged to help Zaake access medical care abroad, if need arises.

Other MPs who were injured in the September 27 chaos as the security officers forcibly removed them from the chambers of Parliament include Soroti Municipality MP AngellineOsegge, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, Kasambya County MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa and Aruu North MP Lucy Aciro.

 

The injured are part of the 25 Opposition and NRM MPs Kadaga had suspended.

Kadaga had suspended the MPs for defying her orders the previous day when they sang the national anthem endlessly to block the tabling of the motion introducing a Bill that seeks to remove the presidential age limit of 75 years.

Zaake who said he suffered head injuries, commended Kadaga for visiting him.

"I informed her that doctors had referred me to two hospitals in Germany and the US. She promised that Parliament would give financial assistance to me and Nambooze for our treatment abroad," Zaake told New Vision.

Zaake said although he did not discuss the age limit debate with Kadaga, he is still hopeful that Kadaga could do the needful to frustrate the Bill.

"Kadaga has been a source of inspiration to many of us from across the political divide. She attended my constituency victory party as the guest of honour. Our hope in her is not yet gone. From what I observed, there is a possibility of her changing her heart regarding the Bill, which seeks to open the way for life presidency for

President Museveni who has been in power for 32 years," Zaake argued. Moses Kasibante also expressed gratitude that the Speaker of Parliament went to his home.

"The Speaker is overwhelmed by the public demand to do the right thing regarding the Bill. We were roughed up because we are representing the wishes of Ugandans to whom power belongs," Kasibante stated.

He described Kadaga's visit as a good step towards restoring the confidence of MPs and the citizens. Kasibante also urged the Government to present to Parliament a report on the persons involved in the fracas at Parliament and those behind the grenade attacks.

 

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