MP Francis Zaake has demanded an apology and compensation from his colleague, Kilak North MP Anthony Akol, after a violent altercation in Parliament on Wednesday, November 6.
Mr Zaake’s legal team, Lukwago & Co. Advocates, has filed a notice of intention to sue for assault and battery, detailing the incident during a heated debate on the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill.
According to the notice, Mr Akol physically assaulted Zaake by repeatedly punching him in the head, causing him to fall to the ground and suffer injuries.
The incident, which occurred in the presence of other MPs and was captured on parliamentary footage, led to Zaake requiring medical attention for both physical and emotional trauma.
Mr Zaake’s legal team emphasized that this attack aggravated his past experiences of torture, further deepening his distress.
Mr Zaake, who had to undergo extensive treatment from specialised hospitals outside the country following a similar battery in 2017 at the hands of General Katumba Wamala, was on Wednesday admitted to hospital after the Akol battery.
Mr Zaake’s lawyers are demanding that Mr Akol issue an unequivocal apology on the floor of Parliament, make a monetary payment to compensate for the harm caused, and cover 10% of the payment towards the legal fees.
The notice does not specify the sum of money Mr Zaake would want his colleague to pay.
They have given Mr Akol seven days to comply with these demands or face legal action.
Akol defends action
Earlier on Friday, MP Akol defended his actions, claiming that Mr Zaake’s confrontational behavior warranted a violent response.
In a statement, Mr Akol likened himself to an elephant, warning that he would not tolerate being provoked.
“I don’t quarrel with people, but when attacked, I respond. Don’t push me — it’s like challenging an elephant,” Akol said in a stern warning to Zaake to avoid further conflicts he “cannot win.”
He suggested that Mr Zaake’s actions, including throwing punches in the air during the altercation, may indicate a need for a mental health assessment.
Mr Akol, who has a history of physical confrontations in Parliament, previously assaulted then-Aruu County MP Odonga Otto in 2020, an incident that also left Otto hospitalised.
Critics have raised concerns over his temper, which seems to escalate with minor provocations.
However, Mr Akol maintained that his actions were in self-defence, arguing that he was the one who was attacked and that Mr Zaake was “punching in the air repeatedly”.
The altercation and the subsequent reactions have led to disciplinary actions. Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, suspended both Akol and Zaake, along with ten other MPs, for three plenary sittings due to the violence in the chamber.
Mr Akol has criticized this suspension, claiming that it was unjust since he was the one defending himself from an attack.
The situation has sparked debates on the conduct of MPs and their behavior within Parliament. With Zaake now seeking legal redress, the clash between the two legislators is set to remain a topic of public scrutiny.
