Ugandan police whisk away MP Francis Zaake from airport

Ugandan police on Thursday whisked away Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake following his arrival at Entebbe International Airport.

Speaking to Ugandan press, the legislator’s wife – Bridget Namirembe – said that awaiting police officers plucked his husband from the plane soon as it touched down and bundled him into their van.

“When I tried to get off the plane and follow, I was told by airport authorities that I would be arrested and I was informed our luggage was also taken,” Ms. Namirembe told Uganda’s Daily Monitor.

She also told the media outlet that they were initially scheduled to travel on a Kenya Airways plane but their flight was later changed to Jambojet.

The legislator’s lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa said they had planned to take Mr. Zaake to Mityana for prayers and would stop over at Zigoti and Muduuma, further describing the manner in which he was plucked from the plane as “unlawful.”

Ugandan police force had earlier forbidden unlawful procession along the roads saying they would escort Mr. Zaake from the airport to his home.

Addressing the press at his home later in the day, the MP said his health was much better than when he left Uganda but had worsened  because of the way he was handled by the police in addition to the jet lag.

Mr. Zaake hade arrived in Uganda from Manipal Hospital in India where he had been hospitalized for 40 days following injuries sustained while in police custody following the arrests at Arua in August.

He had been among other  MPs, including Bobi Wine, who campaigned for Kassiano Wadri, the eventual winner of the Arua Municipality seat following by-election  held in the same month.