Coffee Bill: Fight Erupts in Ugandan Parliament, 11 MPs Suspended

As Parliament convened to debate the controversial National Coffee Bill today morning, tempers flared before debate could start, a fight broke out between Anthony Akol , the Kilak County MP and Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake.

As Akol beat up Zaake, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among was whisked away to safety as chaos ensued.

Parliament resumed after a brief suspension prompted by earlier clashes among MPs during a heated debate on the National Coffee Bill. The session was paused to restore order, with multiple MPs suspended following the commotion.

Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Hon. Francis Zaake was rushed to hospital after being involved in a physical altercation with fellow MP. Hon. Anthony Akol.

A viral clip on the internet shows Hon. Zaake being punched in the face and on his head after seemingly trying to displace Hon. Akol from his seat.

Hon. Akol, visibly irritated by Zaake’s taunting, stands up and rains punches on the Mityana Municipality MP before other MPs and security intervened.

Minutes later, Zaake was seen being wheeled out of the Parliament and into a waiting ambulance before being rushed to the hospital.

This is not the first time Hon. Francis Zaake has been physically harmed in the parliament. In 2017, Zaake was punched into his sickbed by General Katumba Wamala.