An ambulance belonging to AAR Clinic drove out of Lubaga hospital carrying Mityana Municipality legislator Francis Zaake Mutebi shortly after 11:30 am in time for a 3 pm flight to India. It was a swift 40 minutes’ ride until a convoy pulled into the Entebbe Airport parking.
The legislator was stopped from continuing through Immigration with officials demanding clearance from the Head Criminal Intelligence Department of Police Grace Akullo.
The CID is investigating the case that marked the final campaign day in the Arua Municipality by-election and it is believed that the legislator had a role in the case.“Security here is under instructions not to allow the Hon. Francis Zaake to fly out.
We have tried to engage the Deputy Speaker, we are also engaging the Prime Minister. We have been informed that there is a meeting going on which will come up with a final decision.
We don’t know when the meeting will end, we equally don’t know what decision they will make.” Said, Asuman Basalirwa – Zaake’s Lawyer.
Medics and fellow legislators escorting the patient tried in vain to call Akullo with calls going unanswered. “They have all agreed that let him be first arrested then after, they will solve his issues later.” Said, Allan Ssewanyana – MP, Makindye West.
“But even if he was wanted, his condition cannot support, cannot allow him to either go to Police or court. So the best thing would be for the government to clear him to travel to India.” Security operatives finally arrested the legislator and planned to take him to Mulago National Referral Hospital.
“As a Member of Parliament, there is no way he can run away from Uganda. After all the people he was arrested with are out on bail. That alone can give him a lot of confidence that even if he is to be taken to court, he will still be granted bail like the others.”
According to Police, Zaake escaped from detention at Arua Regional Referral Hospital where he had been admitted after he sustained injuries while in detention falling his arrest.
The legislator secured clearance from a medical board to travel abroad for treatment but Police early this week wrote to the management of Lubaga Hospital where he had been admitted, asking the youthful MP to be transferred to Mulago for further management by government doctors.
Lubaga hospital, however, declined the request. A Police statement released later in the day said the MP will be treated at Mulago and will later be produced in court at an appropriate time. He was still in detention at the Airport by press time.
