Ugandan activists have exposed the outgoing Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga for pocketing a staggering Shs 500m as a ‘service award’ after only two years in office.
The award was passed during a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission held on May 6, 2022 in the Speaker’s boardroom at the Parliament Building.
The meeting was called to discuss the ‘service award review of elected benefits of the leader of opposition and backbench commissioners’.
It was attended by Speaker Anita Among, then LOP Mathias Mpuuga and Parliament commissioners, Solomon Silwany, Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi and Esther Afoyochan.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija were absent with apologies.
However, the Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige and his deputies – Henry Yoweri Waiswa and Paul Wabwire attended the meeting as well as Parliament lawyer Sitnag Cherotich, Herbert Ariko, Patrick Kunobwa (Director, Finance) and Louis Bakyenga (Acting Director Commissioner Secretariat).
The meeting 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.
One of the terms of the pay-off was it would not change ‘regardless of length of tenure of office.’
Agather Atuhaire, one of the activists coordinating the #UgandaParliamentExhibition on X platform said Mpuuga got 500m as outgoing LOP, adding, “The commissioners got 400m each as outgoing commissioners, never mind their terms were renewed.”
She added: “Joel Ssenyonyi (new LOP) isn’t getting anything, at least not on that money because it was given on person to holder basis and is not transferable to another LOP. He will have to negotiate his own deal.”
Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) boss Robert Kyagulanyi on December 22, 2023 sacked Mpuuga, replacing him with Ssenyonyi following public outcries that the then leader of opposition was in bed with the ruling NRM party.
Article 87A of the Constitution establishes the 10-member Parliamentary Commission.
Section 2 (2) of the Administration of Parliament Act provides for the composition of the Commission to include: Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Government Business, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister responsible for Finance and four Commissioners (Backbench Members of Parliament).
The Clerk to Parliament is the Secretary to the Commission.
Outrage
Ugandans have since expressed shock at the wastage of public funds at Parliament.
“The appointing authority Bobi Wine and and David Rubongoya hope you will make a statement about this matter to Ugandans who are seeking a transparent and accountable change!” said Walter Adyeeri on X platform.
Aaron Nze, observed: “I think our Parliament just has too much money, they just run out of names for expenditure lines but there is plenty of money to waste. Then the realisation that there is no opposition when it comes to money.”
Chris Obore, Director Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament said in a statement that the House acknowledges concerns raised in the ongoing #UgandaParliamentExhibition on the institution.
“Though the discussion is laden with distortions, in the spirit of openness, accountability and transparency, we are duty bound to study the specifics of all concerns and conclusively address them,” said Obore without providing details.
National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine said the #UgandaParliamentExhibition has so far “unearthed some shocking, but not surprising revelations about the grand corruption, nepotism and the sheer mismanagement of our nation’s affairs.”
He added: “A big THANK YOU to the organisers and all citizens who are taking part in the exhibition. It’s not only a right but a DUTY for every citizen to demand for accountability from those who are in charge of our public affairs, and to expose all wrong doing.” Chimpreports