By Frank Kamuntu
The Constitutional Court has today heard afresh an application in which the Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake is seeking to reverse his impeachment as a Parliamentary Commissioner.
The case was re-heard by a panel of five Justices; Catherine Bamugemereire, Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, Christopher Izama Madrama, Stephen Musota, and Irene Mulyagonja who was on zoom.
Zaake is challenging the decision by Parliament to remove him from the position of Commissioner of Parliament on allegations of using his social media platform to insult the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
The legislator was impeached on March 10, 2022, following a successful motion to censure him that was tabled by Bardege-Layibi Division MP, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi accusing him of gross misconduct and breach of Parliament decorum because of the insults in question.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Zaake in March 2022 petitioned the Constitutional Court on grounds that there was procedural impropriety. In his petition, the legislation argues that Parliament made the decision without a quorum. “There are more than 500 legislators and ex-officials in the current parliament but only 161 MPs voted on the matter.”
Zaake also accuses members of the Rules Committee of having received sh6m each from public coffers for participating in the Committee proceedings that resulted in his removal from office. According to Zaake, this was a bribe. He wants the court to compel each beneficiary to refund the money to the consolidated fund.
Speaking to journalists outside the court premises today, Zaake’s lead counsel Erias Lukwago said the panel has since notified them that the ruling will be delivered on notice.
”Court has heard our case once again and promised that the ruling will be delivered on notice. The panel also apologized that the judgement has been delayed because some of the judges were elevated to the Supreme Court,” said Lukwago.
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