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MP Zaake on life support at Rubaga hospital
Leader of Opposition Betty Aol Ochan looks at Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake at Lubaga Hospital. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
What you need to know:
Lord Mayor Lukwago described Zaake’s state as “vegetative” adding that he was tortured to near death
Lukwago said the situation of Mr Kyagulanyi in Makindye is not any better than that of Zaake.
KAMPALA.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Ms Betty Aol and Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago have this afternoon visited Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake who is bedridden in a coma-like condition at Rubaga hospital.
According to his lawyer Richard Lumu, the legislator whose detention centre was not known since his arrest in Arua on Monday, was “dumped” at Rubaga hospital at about 3am this morning.
On arrival from Makindye military barracks where Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine is being detained under similar conditions, Ms Aol accompanied by Mayor Lukwago, Kilak County MP Gilbert Oulanya and Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye, they were first taken to the hospital administration block.
After a wait of more than 15 minutes, one of the medics who did not identify herself, led the team jammed with dozens of journalists to the surgical ward where Zaake is being treated on life support.
Inside the treatment room, Zaake was found in the care of a male doctor who did not entertain any questions hence not explaining in medical terms what condition the legislator was.
Ms Aol who shed tears told journalists outside the surgical ward that, “Hon Zaake’s life is on the mercy of God and we pray that he keeps him alive”.
She said that Zaake was subjected to “severe” beatings and torture which has put his life in more danger as he was still recovering from the injuries he sustained when he was beaten up in parliament during the anti-age limit removal protests last year.
The Mp was treated in the United States of America.
“His condition is very bad,” she said. Adding that; “the people who tortured him did it with an intention of killing Hon Zaake. We hope that he gets better”.
She said the opposition MPs will soon sit and chat a way forward on what action to take in regard to the condition of the two MPs.
Lord Mayor Lukwago described Zaake’s state as “vegetative” adding that he was tortured to near death.
Lukwago said the situation of Mr Kyagulanyi in Makindye is not any better than that of Zaake.
“Hon Kyagulanyi is also in a bad condition. He can only be lifted and they (military) are the ones lifting him and he cannot speak,” Mr Lukwago said.
At around midday, Mr Lumu, the lawyer for Zaake had told us that he was being transferred to Nakasero hospital for specialised medical check up on what might have happened to the internal body system.
He said that, the doctors however, called him that they delayed to transfer him because they were waiting for the visit of the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.
Daily Monitor later understood that Neither Ms Kadaga nor her deputy, Jacob Oulanyah was in Kampala.
By press time, it was not yet clear whether the hospital administration which refused to speak to the journalist will transfer him as earlier planned.
