NUP Recalls Mpuuga as Parliament Commissioner, Zaake to Take Over

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has recalled the Nyendo Mukungwe MP, Mathias Mpuuga, from his position as a Commissioner of Parliament.

The party in a statement signed by the Acting President, Lina Zedriga, proposed Mityana Municipality MP and former commissioner, Francis Zaake to replace him.

Zaake was thrown off the seat over disciplinary issues, a decision he has challenged and appealed in the courts of law.

Mpuuga, also the NUP Vice President Buganda, is accused of receiving Shs500m from Parliament as a service award.

The act has been described by the Makerere-Kavule-based leadership as corruption.

Following these developments, NUP demanded that Mpuuga resign from the commission, a step he refused to take.

Instead, the former Leader of the Opposition described the above as internal fights and intrigue well orchestrated and well-funded to character assassinate him.

”I accordingly decline the cowardly call on me to resign as a parliamentary Commissioner, based on spite, and deliberate misrepresentation for mischievous reasons.”

In light of the above, the party on March 7, gave Mpuuga seven days to show cause why he should not be recalled as commissioner, a deadline which expired on March 14.

The acting party President Zedriga said they had listened to Mpuuga’s defense but were not convinced by it and decided to recall him as commissioner.

“The National Executive Committee of the National Unity Platform sat today to consider the response by Hon. Mathias Mpuuga to the accusation that he engaged in acts of corruption and abuse of office when he, together with the NRM Parliamentary Commissioners irregularly allocated themselves 1.7 billion shillings as “Service Awards” in a meeting chaired by Ms. Anita Among.”

“Although, he responded to NEC’s request to show cause why he should not be recalled from the Parliamentary Commission, he did not provide any satisfactory explanation for engaging in this grave action which goes against the mission, values, and objectives of the Party. In particular, he did not make any attempt to respond to the specific accusations leveled against him,” the statement read.

She noted that the party resolved to recall Mpuuga from the commission on account of corruption dishonesty and abuse of office.

“In light of this, NEC has resolved to recall Hon. Mathias Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission on account of corruption, dishonesty, and abuse of office, and to notify Parliament of the same,” she said.

She revealed that NEC further resolved to nominate Hon. Zaake Francis Butebi as Parliamentary Commissioner.

“His nomination was informed by the fact that he was illegally removed from that role in March 2022 to pave the way for the grand corrupt and questionable dealings of the Parliamentary Commission that have now come to light.”

Not relenting, Zedriga noted that the party will initiate the relevant process to effect the resolution.

However, it’s not clear how the party will affect the same since Parliamentary rules stipulate that a commissioner can only lose his/her slot after being voted out by two-thirds of the entire House.