A heated parliamentary session in Uganda took a violent turn today, as Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake, was hospitalized following a physical altercation with Kilak North MP, Anthony Akol. The incident occurred during the ongoing debate over the controversial National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
According to videos circulating on social media, the altercation began when MP Zaake attempted to reclaim his seat, which had briefly been taken by MP Akol while he raised a point of order. Zaake reportedly tried to nudge Akol off the seat, which led to Akol striking Zaake multiple times, eventually knocking him to the floor.
Tensions had been running high earlier in the session when Zaake raised concerns about security, alleging that unauthorized individuals with firearms had entered the parliamentary chambers. Speaker Anita Among intervened, identifying the individual Zaake referred to as her bodyguard. A search was conducted, but no firearms were found, and the Speaker dismissed Zaake’s security concerns.
The atmosphere in Parliament grew even more charged when Speaker Among invoked Rule 9, declaring a “free sitting” due to the unusually high number of MPs present. The situation soon escalated into a physical scuffle, prompting the Speaker to temporarily leave the chamber.
In the aftermath, Speaker Among announced the suspension of 12 MPs involved in the incident, citing gross misconduct and emphasizing the need for decorum within the parliamentary chamber.
As the session ended, MP Zaake was seen being wheeled out in an ambulance, signaling the close of a highly disruptive and unsettling parliamentary day.
