Parliament Brawl Escalates: MP Zaake to Sue Akol for ‘Wild Animal’ Assault in Chambers
Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake has threatened to drag his Kilak North counterpart, Anthony Akol to court for assaulting him on the floor of the House.The incident occurred during the plenary session on Wednesday.
Tensions were already high as lawmakers prepared to debate the coffee bill which scrapped the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and integrated it into the Ministry of Agriculture.
As plenary session commenced, Zaake alleged that there was a man with a gun inside the chambers of Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among then requested the Sergeant at Arms to perform a security check on the accused. The check confirmed no gun.
Still unconvinced, Zaake conducted his own search on the man.
Shortly afterward, as the Speaker instructed lawmakers to sit, Zaake is seen standing in front of Akol.
Zaake then shoved Akol off the seat and sat down, seemingly indicating that Akol had taken his seat while he had gone to the microphone to raise a concern about a man entering the parliamentary chambers with a gun.
Following this, Akol retaliated, landing strong punches on Zaake.
The whole house then plunged into chaos, with Speaker also vacating her seat and suspending the House for 30 months.
Zaake was punched following a heated debate in Parliament
Zaake was rushed to Nsambya hospital for treatment.
At his hospital bed, Zaake said that Akol had taken his seat while he had temporarily vacated it to go to the microphone to raise a concern about a man entering parliament with a gun.
Zaake has since been discharged.
After leaving the hospital, Zaake said he was taking legal action against Akol.
“Upon being discharged from hospital, I have instructed my lawyers to take swift legal action against Mr. Akol Anthony (MP Kilak North) for physically assaulting me like a wild animal on the floor of Parliament as we debated the coffee Bill,” Zaake posted on his X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Zaake’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago of Lukwago and Co. Advocates has since written to Akol with intention to sue.
“Our client avers that on the 6th day of November 2024, during a parliamentary session discussing the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, you, Hon. Anthony Akol, physically assaulted and battered our client by repeatedly punching him in and/or around his head, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain injuries. Your barbaric attack, perpetrated in the presence of other Members of Parliament, 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,” Lukwago’s letter to Akol reads in part.
“The violent actions you exhibited towards our client constitute a grave violation of his personal rights and amount to the torts of assault and battery. 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,” it adds.
Lukwago demanded Akol to issue an ‘unequivocal” apology to Zaake on the floor of Parliament or make a monetary atonement to our Zaake “adequate enough to ameliorate the damage and injury occassioned upon him by your violent actions.”
Failure or refusal to comply with the demands, Lukwago said court proceedings against Akol will commence.
In response, Akol said he will defeat Zaake in court.
“You started it before and lost. You have started it again, I can assure you that you will still lose. Lukwago is going to eat your money for nothing. No one has taken me to court and won especially if you were first to fight me. This is not the first time,” Akol posted on X.
Akol has since started a war of words against NUP, Zaake’s political party.
The NUP party, Akol said, is full of “hooligans.”
Parliament Brawl Escalates: MP Zaake to Sue Akol for ‘Wild Animal’ Assault in Chambers
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum