The National Unity Platform (NUP) has resolved to replace Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga with Francis Zaake as Commissioner of Parliament.
Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga may lose his position on the Parliamentary Commission as the National Unity Platform’s National Executive Committee announced on Friday its decision to replace Mpuuga with Mityana MP Francis Zaake.
The decision to remove Mpuuga from the Commission came shortly after Speaker of Parliament Anita Among blocked debate on allegations of corruption and abuse of office within Parliament, stating that she would not entertain rumors in the August House.
It remains unclear whether Mpuuga will be removed from the Parliamentary Commission based on the NUP Executive Committee’s recommendation to replace him with Francis Zaake.
Mpuuga, who was removed as the Leader of the Opposition in December 2023, is accused of accepting a “Service Award” of 500 million shillings from the Parliamentary Commission.
The Robert Kyagulanyi-led National Executive Committee alleged that Mpuuga, currently serving as one of the Parliamentary Commissioners, was bribed by Anita Among. However, Kyagulanyi is currently out of the country.
The “service award” was reportedly part of the 1.7 billion shillings irregularly allocated to Parliamentary Commissioners, including three backbench MPs from the ruling NRM Party, each of whom allegedly received 400 million shillings.
In a statement signed by Acting Party President Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, the party resolved to recall Mpuuga from the Commission due to his involvement in the irregular allocation.
“The National Executive Committee of the National Unity Platform met today to consider Hon. Mathias Mpuuga’s response to accusations of corruption and abuse of office. Despite responding to the NEC’s request, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, which are contrary to the party’s mission, values, and objectives. Therefore, NEC has decided to recall Hon. Mathias Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission due to corruption, dishonesty, and abuse of office,” said Zedriga in the statement.
The party further resolved to nominate Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake Butebi as Mpuuga’s replacement on the Parliamentary Commission.
“His nomination is based on the fact that he was illegally removed from that role in March 2022 to facilitate the questionable dealings of the parliamentary commission, which have now come to light,” the statement reads.
Mpuuga was appointed to the Parliamentary Commission in December 2023, succeeding Francis Zaake, who had been dismissed for alleged indiscipline based on a report by the Rules, Discipline, and Privileges Committee chaired by Abdu Katuntu.
The Court of Appeal ruled that Zaake should be reinstated as Commissioner, but Parliament, through the Attorney General, filed an appeal that is pending disposal.
Mpuuga’s appointment as Commissioner was seen by the public as a demotion, as he lost his position as Leader of the Opposition, which he had 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 Don Dr. Spire Ssentongo and other activists using the hashtag #Uganda Parliament Exhibition implicated Mpuuga in receiving 500 million shillings of the 1.7 billion shillings.
Although NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, advised Mpuuga to apologize to the public and step down from the Parliament Commission, Mpuuga rejected the call, arguing that it was motivated by spite and deliberate misrepresentation for mischievous reasons.
