Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake has accused Parliament Commission of disobeying court directives after they forcibly retrieved a government vehicle from his home on Thursday.
The vehicle, Reg. No. UG 0333H, had been granted to Zaake by virtue of his position as a commissioner of Parliament. But he has since lost the position after he was impeached.
But Zaake said since he has contested his impeachment in court, Parliament ought to have waited for the outcome of court proceedings before taking away the car.
“However, you might recall that through Constitutional Petition No. 06 of 2022, I challenged my unlawful removal from the Commission and any subsequent attempts to deny me the tools I need to execute my functions. At the hearing of that Petition, Parliament’s lawyers undertook to respect the court process by refraining from any further action that may disrupt the status quo,” he said.
“It is therefore disturbing that instead of waiting for the Judgment, Parliamentary authorities have resorted to acting with impunity and in contempt of Court. Their conduct yesterday was a savage attack on the rule of law which renders Parliament subject to and bound by judicial process,” he added.
The MP also said the incident is yet another example of what it means to have leaders and institutions that are neither accountable to the people nor to the law.
“I am consulting my lawyers on the way forward,” he said.
But Parliament Director of Communications Chris Obore in a rejoinder said Zaake had severally refused to return the car despite several reminders.
“The action was prompted by Hon. Zaake’s refusal to return Government property that by policy is supposed to be driven by an official driver,” Obore said.
“The Clerk to Parliament had severally advised Hon Zaake to follow the guidelines governing management of government fleet and return the car but he declined. The police have delivered the car and its safe at parliament parking,” he added.
