LUBAGA – Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze could not hold back tears on Thursday after visiting fellow MP Francis Zaake at Lubaga Hospital.
Ms. Nambooze, who herself was a victim of brutality at the hands of security operatives during a raid on Parliament during last year’s age limit debate, broke down after seeing results of the CT Scan earlier done on Mr. Zaake at Nsambya Hospital.
The results indicate that Zaake’s backbone discs were dislocated, while one bone in his neck was badly damaged and with bruises all over the body.
Mr. Zaake, in his brief chat with Ms. Nambooze, narrated that he was beaten up by soldiers following arrest in Arua on August 13, a rope tied around his neck, punched and kicked until he blacked out.
He said he only woke up to find himself in hospital.
“They kept asking why I disturb them as they hit me with all sorts of items including iron bars,” Mr. Zaake said.
The Mukono MP’s visit comes a day after Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah also visited Zaake and said he is in a lot of pain.
Zaake’s wife Bridget Namirembe said the legislator is suffering.
“Turning the neck and sitting are impossible. He can’t turn the neck and medically, that is an indication that the central nervous system has got problems,” she said.
She also lashed at government whom she accused of being insensitive to the plight of the people.
“Let government be fair and just and not take people’s lives for granted. They don’t care about the happiness of others, mothers, families, Uganda needs justice,” said Ms. Namirembe, who is a professional medical doctor.
Mr. Zaake, Robert Kyagulanyi (Kyadondo East MP), Paul Mwiru (Jinja), Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo), and Arua Municipality MP-elect Kassiano Wadri were among 30 other people arrested on the last day of the campaigns in Arua Municipality and charged with treason.
On Thursday, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine was added to the list after he was acquitted of the charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by the army court. He was then charged with treason and remanded to Gulu Central Prison until August 30.
