MITYANA – Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake has accused the police of witch hunt and intimidation after the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) summoned him in relation to charges of escaping from police custody.
Mr Zaake is on Wednesday, November 21, expected at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala, to answer the charges that emanated out of the chaos that preceded the August parliamentary by-election in Arua Municipality in which he and several other MPs and residents were brutalized and later charged with treason.
As the legislator is recovering from the injuries, he said the police summons are shameless and reckless.
“They arrested me, beat me to near death, threw me at a Lubaga hospital gate and then they decide that I answer charges that should be against them, the perpetrator. Other than a witch hunt, such action is persecution,” Zaake said in an interview on Monday.
“Those who saw me at the time imagined me dead. They tied my hands and started to cut various parts of my body using bayonets as others pierced my ears, stomach, back and hands. They beat me up with butts of their guns, squeezed my ankles, toes, fingers using pliers. They pulled my genitals- those people are bad,” he added.
Nevertheless, the MP said he will honour the CID summons come Wednesday and said nothing will stop him from championing justice in the country.
Zaake denies escaping from police or participating in violence and says that those charging him are the real people supposed to be in detention.
The Arua violence saw Yasin Kawuma, the driver of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, shot dead. At least 36 people, including five MPs were tortured, detained and later charged with treason.
Zaake and Bob Wine were the most hurt, with the duo later flying out of the country for treatment.
In a letter to Zaake issued through the Speaker of Parliament on November 16, the Director of CID, Grace Akullo invited Mr. Zaake to be quizzed on treason and escape from police custody.
“”You are, therefore, in pursuance of the provision of Section 27A of the Police Act (As amended)) required to appear before the Deputy Director Investigations at CID Headquarters, Kibuli on November 21, 2018, at 0900 hours who will guide you on the next course of action,” reads part of the letter signed by the director criminal investigations, AIGP Grace Akullo.
