By THE OBSERVER UG
The National Unity Platform (NUP) has resolved to remove Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga as commissioner of parliament and replace him with Francis Zaake.
The decision to remove Mpuuga from the commission was made on Friday, shortly after the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, blocked debate on allegations of corruption and abuse of office within parliament. Among stated that she would not entertain discussions based on rumors spread by individuals she referred to as “bum-shafters” [homosexuals].
It remains uncertain whether the leadership under Among will adhere to NUP’s recommendation and allow Zaake to assume the position from which he was previously dismissed. Mpuuga, who was removed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in December 2023, is accused of accepting Shs 500 million as a “service award” from the parliamentary commission.
The “service award” was purportedly part of the Shs 1.7 billion irregularly allocated to parliamentary commissioners, which included three back-bench MPs from the ruling NRM party. Allegedly, each of the three NRM commissioners received Shs 400 million.
In a statement issued by acting NUP president Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, the party resolved to recall Mpuuga from the commission due to his alleged involvement in the irregular allocation. Zedriga stated, “Although he responded to NEC’s request to show cause why he should not be recalled from the parliamentary commission, he didn’t provide any satisfactory explanation for engaging in this grave action which goes against the mission, values, and objectives of the party.”
Zedriga further explained that Zaake’s nomination was prompted by his unlawful removal from the role in March 2022, which facilitated the grand corruption and questionable dealings of the parliamentary commission that have now been exposed.
Zaake was dismissed for alleged indiscipline following a report by the parliamentary Committee on Rules, Discipline, and Privileges chaired by Abdu Katuntu. The Court of Appeal ruled for Zaake’s reinstatement as commissioner, but parliament, represented by the Attorney General, filed an appeal which is yet to be resolved.
Mpuuga’s appointment as a commissioner was widely perceived as a demotion since he lost his position as Leader of the Opposition, a role he held for the previous two and a half years. He was replaced by Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi.
Documents shared during an online protest led by Makerere University professor Dr. Spire Ssentongo and other activists using the hashtag #UgandaParliamentExhibition implicated Mpuuga in personally receiving Shs 500 million in cash rewards.
Although Mpuuga was subsequently advised by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, to apologize to the public and step down from the parliamentary commission, Mpuuga adamantly rejected the call, arguing that it was driven by spite and deliberate misrepresentation for malicious reasons.
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