Anita Among to Serve on Committee Chaired by Francis Zaake in Political Reshuffle

In a surprising turn of political events within the Ugandan Parliament, former Speaker Anita Among has been designated to serve on the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation. This committee will be chaired by Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, a long-time critic of Among.

The appointments, announced by Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng, place the Bukedea District Woman Representative, Among, in a position where she will be a member of a committee led by Zaake, who has been designated as the chairperson by the opposition. Anna Adeke, Soroti Woman MP, is the vice chairperson.

The Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation holds a crucial oversight function, tasked with monitoring government promises and assessing the fulfillment of commitments made on the Parliament floor by various ministries and agencies.

This arrangement signifies a notable shift, as Among, who recently held the high office of Speaker, will now be an ordinary member of a committee presided over by Zaake. Their parliamentary relationship has been characterized by numerous confrontations, accusations of victimisation, and disciplinary battles.

Zaake has been a vocal critic of Parliament’s leadership during Among’s tenure as Speaker. He has previously accused the leadership of failing to protect opposition legislators and of enabling violence within the House. Their strained relationship dates back to significant parliamentary events, including the 2017 debate on the Presidential Age Limit bill, where Zaake was injured during proceedings. More recently, in 2021, he was involved in another altercation and subsequently criticized Speaker Among.

Parliament’s decision to remove Zaake as a Parliamentary Commissioner in March 2022, following accusations of misconduct related to social media statements about Among, further deepened their political animosity. Although this decision was later nullified by the Constitutional Court due to lack of quorum, it highlighted the contentious nature of their interactions.

The new committee assignments come as Parliament reorganizes its structures for the upcoming session, with various members being reallocated. The reshuffle also includes Among’s husband, Moses Magogo, who has been moved from the Budget Committee to the Human Rights Committee, and Patrick Isiagi, Among’s uncle, who was removed from the Budget Committee.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/354445/ex-speaker-among-designated-to-committee-chaired-by-zaake