Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa was compelled to adjourn proceedings until the following week as chaos erupted over allegations of defamatory remarks and a physical altercation involving Members of Parliament.
The incident revolved around Francis Zaake, a Member of Parliament from Mityana Municipality, who was accused of making derogatory comments about Juliet Kinyamatama, a fellow MP from Rakai District.
The disturbance escalated when some MPs attempted to physically assault Zaake, accusing him of maligning Kinyamatama with his remarks. In response to these actions, Opposition MPs rallied to shield Zaake from potential harm.
Kinyamatama, visibly distressed, informed the Parliament that the words uttered by Zaake in the local dialect in his constituency were so offensive that she could not bring herself to utter them aloud. Instead, she demanded that a video clip be played before the Parliament to expose the derogatory comments made against her.
“Let that video be played, I want the world to see what he said,” Kinyamatama said. “An attack on a woman is an attack on all of us as female MPs. I can’t be called what he called me.” she said
However, Kinyamatama’s request to air the video was met with resistance from Ibrahim Ssemujju, representing Kira Municipality. Ssemujju questioned the appropriateness of discussing matters that originated outside Parliament, suggesting that it wasn’t necessary for Kinyamatama to air comments she herself considered unutterable. This led to a ten-minute adjournment of the Parliament.
During the recess, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa held a closed-door meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, and the Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Nakadama.
After the session resumed, Ssemujju proposed that Gen. Katumba Wamala be referred to the Committee of Rules, Privileges and Discipline for investigation. The matter was referred to the Committee of Rules, Privileges and Discipline for further investigations, and the video was ordered to be translated into English since the offensive comments were made in Luganda.
However, Ssemujju argued that if Zaake was being investigated for his alleged defamatory remarks, Gen. Katumba Wamala, works and transport Minister who had previously attempted to physically harm Zaake during a 2017 debate on the age limit bill, should also face an investigation.
“If we are dealing with matters of injuring each other, we have a General here who nearly killed Zaake, so as we refer Zaake for whatever he may have said, we need to also refer the one who was killing him and is still seated with us here,” Ssemujju uttered
A fight subsequently erupted within the chambers when Zaake attempted to exit the Parliament. NRM (National Resistance Movement) Female MPs reportedly ambushed Zaake, attempting to assault him. However, the Sergeant at Arms and some Opposition MPs intervened to protect Zaake and safely remove him from the scene.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa then made the decision to adjourn the Parliament until the following week, as the situation had escalated to a point where order and decorum could not be maintained.