A section of legislators, led by Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Ssekikubo, is preparing a motion to censure Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition, and three National Resistance Movement (NRM) Commissioners for allocating themselves Shs1.7 billion as a ‘service award.’
Mpuuga is reported to have received Shs500 million, while the other commissioners—Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central), Esther Afoyochan (Zombo Woman), and Prossy Mbabazi (Rubanda Woman)—received Shs400 million each. The meeting in which this money was allocated and approved was chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
While addressing journalists at Parliament on Tuesday, the MPs accused Mpuuga and the three other commissioners of misconduct and abuse of office.
The legislators pushing for the censure motion believe that the payments undermine public trust in the integrity of the Parliamentary Commission and set a dangerous precedent for future conduct within the legislature.
It should be recalled that the National Unity Platform (NUP) asked Mpuuga to step down from his position on the Parliamentary Commission, but he declined to do so, claiming he received the ‘service award’ money legally. NUP further fired Mpuuga from his position as Party Deputy President (Central Region).
Speaker Anita Among, who presided over the meeting that authorized the payments, has not publicly commented on the ‘service awards.’
