Recently, Anthony Akol, the MP for Kilak North, has been discussing what happened to his colleague, Francis Zaake, after an altercation in Parliament. This incident has caused quite a stir and raised many questions.
In an interview in Kampala, Akol expressed surprise that Zaake ended up in Nsambya Hospital. He noted that after the scuffle, he saw Zaake standing and moving around, which made him wonder if someone else had hurt him during the chaos.
Akol mentioned that some people from Mityana sent him messages thanking him for what they believed was his role in the confrontation with Zaake. This added more drama to the situation.
Akol’s comments suggest he views the incident differently from others. He questioned whether Zaake was truly as hurt as claimed. “I don’t understand,” Akol said. “He looked fine after the fight.” He noted that Zaake was standing and even kicking, which raised questions about the extent of his injuries.
Akol also spoke about Zaake’s behavior during the altercation, suggesting that Zaake may have been angry at someone else, possibly the Speaker of Parliament, but redirected his frustration towards him.
Akol also welcomed the decision by Zaake to sue him over the scuffle, although he protested the decision by Speaker Among to suspend him for three sittings, saying he is the victim.
“This isn’t the first time, people who try to take me to court have failed, especially when you started fighting me. When Odonga Otto went to court, the DPP said it was a scuffle. So let him go ahead. I am not happy about the Speaker of Parliament. Why am I suspended when I am attacked? I mean, it doesn’t make sense. If I was the one who attacked someone in the House, then you say, my misconduct in the House, but I didn’t attack anybody and I am appealing this particular suspension, it doesn’t make sense,” noted Akol.
In a strong statement, Akol described himself as a “humble person” but warned against provocation. He said, “When you attack me, it’s like pushing an elephant; you won’t succeed.” He compared this to a previous incident where another MP, Odonga Otto, had kicked him.
Akol made it clear that he has no intention of apologizing to Zaake. He explained that, as he is older than Zaake, African traditions dictate that a younger person should show respect to their elders. “I am actually expecting an apology from Zaake,” he said. “He is the same age as my children. In African culture, when someone is sitting, you give them respect. So why should I apologize?”
This incident has highlighted the behavior of MPs and what can happen when conflicts arise in Parliament. It has also brought up discussions about age, respect, and cultural expectations in politics. As more details emerge, it will be interesting to see how this affects relationships and behavior among MPs in Parliament.