The Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has told the Parliamentary Committee on Rules and Privileges that he is fearing to appear before any parliamentary committee again ever since he was attacked by Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake.
Last month, Nawangwe appeared before the House Committee on Education and Sports investigating the violent strike by Makerere University students who were protesting the 15 percent tuition fees increment.
Here, Zaake accused Nawangwe of harassing students and their parents through phone calls and spying on them as opposed to the University policies.
Due to his unruly manner, which breached the code of conduct for a Member of Parliament, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga directed the Rules and Privileges Committee of parliament to make an investigation on Zaake’s and report back to parliament in two weeks.
While appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Nawangwe told the committee that Zaake’s harassment traumatized him and he is now fearing to appear before any Parliamentary committee because he fears to be disrespected again like how Zaake did.
“Zaake poured a barrage of insults and made various derogative allegations against me. Though I didn’t respond he kept doing this despite efforts of other MPs to restrain him from attacking me,” Nawangwe said.
He added that youthful legislator cautioned him against his attitude and informed him that if he doesn’t change, he will make sure strikes at Makerere University don’t end.
“When the meeting ended and after I had a bad farewell to the chairperson of the committee, Zaake followed me and continued with his threats and pointing at me in a very disrespectful manner….. he continued to hurl insults at me and even flexing muscles, so the chairperson of the committee took me aside and even started escorting me out of the room,” Nawangwe narrates to the committee.
On the same note on Monday when the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Education Committee Jacob Opolot, appeared before the committee he also accused Zaake of abusing and disrespecting Nawangwe.
“The conduct of Zaake was bad and I quickly realized something awful was about to happen. Zaake was so fully charged, shouted at me and called me a dictator even when I gave him more time to submit,” Opolot said while appearing before Rules committee.
Opolot added that Zaake’s conduct towards Nawangwe was unparliamentary, embarrassing and tarnished the whole image of Parliament.
Today, Zaake is expected to appear before the Committee without fail to defend himself.
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