The Deputy Speaker, Mr Thomas Tayebwa was Thursday afternoon, October 12th been forced to temporarily suspend House business after tempers flared during plenary over a video in which Mityana Municipality MP, Hon. Francis Zaake is said to have made defamatory statements against the Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama.
Deputy Speaker
Mr. Thomas Tayebwa adjourned Parliament until next week after some MPs attempted to assault Zaake accusing him of making defamatory remarks against Kinyamatama, thus prompting the Opposition MPs to shield Zaake from being lynched.
Shortly after plenary commenced, Ms Kinyamatama asked Parliament to intervene in what she described as the actions and demeaning statements that Mr Zaake is said to have made against her on October 9 at one of the rallies held in her constituency in Rakai District.
Shortly after plenary commenced, Ms Kinyamatama asked Parliament to intervene in what she described as the actions and demeaning statements that Mr Zaake is said to have made against her on October 9 at one of the rallies held in her constituency in Rakai District.
“I raise on a matter of procedure. On the 9th of October one of our members, the Hon Zaake [went to my constituency] and used defamatory words against me. I cannot mention the remarks here and I ask that the ICT department plays the video,” Ms Kinyamatama said.
Mr Tayebwa had initially ruled to have the matter forwarded to the Parliament’s Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee where all the said clips and other evidence would be tabled but Ms Kinyamatama protested shouting “an attack on me is an attack on all women,” something that sparked an uproar with some MPs insisting that the clip be played in House while other objected it.
He immediately put the matter to a vote on whether to have it played or not. The video was eventually played in plenary.
However, while it was being played, rage piled up something that compelled Speaker to suspend plenary.
“Hon members, House suspended for 10 minutes,” Mr Tayebwa said.
