High Court has ordered government to pay Shs75 million to Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake as compensation for violation of his personal liberties when police invaded his home in Buswabulongo, Mityana district.
In her ruling, Justice Esta Nambayo declared that the intentional infliction of pain and injury on the MP’s body during his detention, infringed on his fundamental human rights to dignity and freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which are protected by the 1995 constitution.
She has also declared that the 10 days he was detained while being tortured without being presented to Court was in breach of his right to liberty, and consequently ordered the State to pay him Shs 75,000,000 as compensation, as well as paying costs of the case.
Speaking after court ruling, Zaake who is currently in Turkey said: “I am particularly happy that like the proverbial dead clock that is at least correct twice a day, the Judiciary has delivered justice at a time when so many other victims of even worse state wrongs are routinely denied redress for fear of upsetting the dictator and his enablers.”
The MP was arrested in April last year 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 brutalised and detained him for more than 48 hrs.
The police was led by former DPC Mityana Municipality Mwine Alex Mukono and Former regional police commander (RPC) Mubende Region Bob Kagarura.
The helpless MP was later produced before Mityana Magistrates Court and charged with 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 magistrate however ordered security officers to first acode the frail and ailing MP with treatment before he appears before the honorable Court.
In May last year, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo withdrew 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,” DPP said.
