By CHIMPREPORTS
The National Unity Platform (NUP) President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine has vowed to crack the whip against corrupt party leaders, and maintained that the former Leader of the Opposition in the House, Mathias Mpuuga returns the Shs 500 million “service award” he received from Parliament, apologise to Ugandans and step down as the Commissioner of Parliament.
Mpuuga was among the officials who attended a meeting at Speaker Anita Among’s office which resolved to grant a ‘one time pay-off service award of Shs 500m for the Leader of Opposition’ and another pay-off of Shs 400m to the backbench Parliament commissioners.
Bobi Wine called a NUP leaders’ meeting during which Mpuuga reportedly apologised for benefiting from the irregular payment and was asked to step down as Commissioner of Parliament.
The scandal has since sparked a social media storm and fueled an internal war in NUP.
Mpuuga has since refused to resign, saying he would not succumb to pressure from the intrigue and machinations of a clique of powerful family members in NUP.
While addressing party leaders from Wakiso district at NUP headquarters in Kampala on Friday, Bobi Wine disclosed that during the Wednesday meeting, “my Deputy President, Rt Hon. Mathias Mpuuga admitted that he indeed took part in this wrong doing.”
Bobi Wine added: “He (Mpuuga) admitted that he wrongfully awarded himself Shs 500 million, and to make it even worse, this was supposed to be person- holder to him, not to benefit those that came before him or those that are coming after him.”
“We wait to see whether the Rt Hon Mathias Mpuuga heeds and takes on the moral action that he was asked to do; and apologise to the people of Uganda, resign from that Commission. Then we shall be willing to come together, rehabilitate him and see how best we can move together.”
The revelations of corruption threaten to split the most popular opposition party in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections.
Resistance
Mpuuga yesterday said he would not resign as Commissioner of Parliament, saying he is a victim of a political witch-hunt by his party members.
“I accordingly decline the cowardly call on me to resign as a parliamentary Commissioner, based on spite, envy and deliberate misrepresentation,” said Mpuuga in a statement issued on Friday.
Mpuuga said he would not be deterred by a clique of family members in the party – a veiled reference to NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi and his close relatives.
“I wish to assure the general membership of NUP and all change seeking forces that… I cannot be deterred by small-group- family interests being peddled to blur the bigger picture of how the Party is being managed without transparency,” said Mpuuga.
He added: “I will not stop raising important questions on the actions, motivation and direction of different actors in the Party, even in the face of the current tribulations, well-choreographed to undermine and depict me as unfit to lead.”
Mpuuga has been backed by the Parliament Spokesperson, Chris Obore who called the money received by Mpuuga and other Commissioners of Parliament as “legitimate pay.”
“There was no bribe paid to Hon. Mpuuga. For purposes of clarity, the public ought to know that every Member of Parliament is paid a gratuity every year. One can classify that as a service reward,” he said.
He added: “By virtue of being a Member of Parliamentary Commission as Leader of Opposition was offering a service beyond being a Member of Parliament or being a member of NUP because parliament is a distinct institution. It is an arm of government with it’s own staff, with its own polices. For instance, we have a long service reward for staff. Any staff who serves consecutively for 20 years is given a reward. Parliament is not doing anything wrong, and the decisions of the Parliamentary Commission are backed by Parliamentary Act. So, calling it a reward only serves propaganda value, but in honest terms, it is a legitimate pay.”
Latigo speaks out
However, former leaders of opposition in parliament, Prof Morris Ogenga Latigo and Wafula Ogutu have all called the money illegal.
“Where did they get money from? Which authority do they have to divert money? It is wrong,” said Latigo.
Latigo also clarified that Mpuuga cannot refuse to resign from the position of Commissioner of Parliament, saying that his party has powers to recall him.
“It is the party that sent him there, and they have a Right to withdraw him,” Latigo said.
Bobi Wine also cautioned all party leaders against wasting taxpayer’s money.
“It is sad. But I tell you my colleagues, I am not going to keep quiet. I want all of us, including me to be careful, and avoid wasting taxpayers’ money,” said Bobi Wine.
“In a new Uganda, we commit to fight corruption. Therefore, we must lead by example. We must do what we are promising the people. You cannot give what you don’t have,” he emphasised.
“If you don’t have integrity, you can’t give integrity. We have a strong stand against corruption, and intend not to just talk about corruption, but act against corruption.”
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