Uganda’s embassy to Ankara-Turkey has rubbished social media claims that Mityana municipality MP Francis Zzaake flew to Turkey to negotiate blogger Fred Lumbuye’s release.According to ambassador Steven Mubiru, Uganda’s ambassador to Turkey, this information is false and misleading.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Ankara, Turkey has taken note of the false, misleading online news articles alleging that Hon. Francis Zaake the Member of Parliament for Mityana Municipality, travelled to the Republic of Turkey to visit Mr. Fred Lumbuye, a social media blogger and NUP Activist”
He goes on ‘the Embassy would like to clarify that Hon. Francis Zaake travelled to Turkey as part of a Delegation of Parliamentary Commissioners and other members of Parliament on Official Government business to undertake a benchmarking visit at the request of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
The visit is being coordinated by the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara with the relevant authorities of the Republic of Turkey’He says the delegation arrived on 5th August 2021 and is scheduled to meet with the different managements of of Atlas University Hospital, MedicalPark Hospital and Liv Hospital in Istanbul to discuss mechanisms of cooperation between these hospitals and Parliament.
MP Zzaake and others on a benching marking trip 
MP Zzaake and others on a benching marking trip
he said.
“Media reports alleging that the Hon. Member of Parliament travelled to Turkey for any other purposes other than official Government business are misleading and should be disregarded”
This is in total contrast with what NUP officials have been saying in respect of Zzaake’s trip to Turkey this week.On Wednesday, social media was awash with messages suggesting that Zzaake had rushed to Turkey to rescue Lumbuye who at the time had been reported to be under custody by authorities in Turkey.
He is wanted on over 30 counts ranging from inciting terrorism, genocide, abusing the president among others. In one of his most terrifying audios, he claimed that former Kampala arch Bishop Kizito Lwanga had been assassinated by the state and also claimed that many more people were to follow suit.
Among these included Kabaka, MPs Betty Nambooze, NUP vice president Rena Zedriga. He also made continuos attacks against Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga and the person of the president. Yesterday, foreign affairs state minister Okello Oryem confirmed that government had succeeded in having Lumbuye extradicted and that he was expected here by today morning.
The shadow minister for foreign affairs also Kyaddondo east MP Muwada Nkunyingi yesterday met Turkish ambassador to Uganda in an effort to pour cold water on government plans to extradict Lumbuye. However, we learnt that the embassy made it clear that it doesn’t condone crime but also said they don’t meddle in internal affairs of other countries.
