Makerere University students want Zaake subjected to mental health test

The students made their demands clear while demonstrating peacefully in a match before Parliament on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

The students, who were holding placards during the demonstration, said that the irrational, improper, impractical, and unprofessional conduct of Zaake doesn’t speak of someone in a good mental state.

"We also pray that Parliament considers subjecting Zaake, who exhibits such behaviour, to a mental health test. We all know that the country is built on one of the strongest institutions, which is family; therefore, such tarnishing remarks catalyse domestic violence, breaking down families, which consequently leads to the breakdown of the country," said James Guma, Secretary General, Makerere University Rakai District Students Association.

The students said that Zaake’s statements were demeaning to all women.

Last week, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, was compelled to temporarily postpone House business on the afternoon of Thursday, October 12, 2023, when tempers rose during plenary over a video in which Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament (MP), Francis Zaake, is reported to have made derogatory allegations against Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama.

Shortly after plenary began, Kinyamatama requested that Parliament intervene in what she characterised as Zaake's conduct and insulting words against her on October 9 at one of the demonstrations staged in her Rakai District constituency.

“I raise a matter of procedure. On the 9th of October, one of our members, Zaake, went to my constituency and used defamatory words against me. I cannot mention the remarks here, and I ask that the ICT department play the video,” Kinyamatama said.

When the NRM female MPs saw Zaake exit the Parliament chambers, they ambushed him in an attempt to beat him up, but the Sergeant at Arms and some opposition MPs rescued Zaake and moved him out.

It is alleged that Zaake was caught on camera saying that Kinyamatama is a disgrace to Parliament because she was engaged in prostitution.