The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has withdrawn all charges leveled against Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake Butebi.
“This is to inform Mityana Magistrates Court that the DPP has decided to discontinue proceedings against MP Francis Zaake Butebi,” the DPP said.
The MP was grappling with charges of negligent act likely to spread infectious diseases contrary to section 171 of the Penal Code Act and disobedience of lawful orders contrary to section 117 of the Penal Code Act.
The MP was arrested in April for giving out relief food to his constituents a few days after President Museveni had announced the lockdown which aimed at stopping the spread of the deadly covid-19.
He was brutalized by security officers before aligning him before Mityana Grade one Magistrate. The magistrate however ordered security officers to first code the frail and ailing MP with treatment before he appears before the honorable Court. He was then released on police bond and is currently walking on sticks.
That was not the first time Zaake was brutalized. In 2018 he was brutalized by security forces in Arua as he campaigned for Arua Municipality MP Kassiano Wadri. He was charged with unlawful escape from police custody. Arua Grade one Magistrate, Mr Swaleh Asiku later acquitted him.