The National Unity Platform (NUP) has called for the resignation of Hon Mathias Mpuuga from his position as a Commissioner of Parliament due to his involvement in devising a contentious financial scheme, resulting in the appropriation of a significant sum of Shs 500 million from public funds.
Recent disclosures by Ugandan activists have exposed the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament for benefiting from what has been labeled as a ‘service award,’ despite serving only a two-year tenure.
The decision to implement this ‘service award’ was made during a confidential session of the Parliamentary Commission convened on May 6, 2022, within the Speaker’s boardroom at the Parliament Building. Hon. Mpuuga was present at this meeting, during which it was resolved to allocate a one-time pay-off service award of Shs 500 million for the Leader of Opposition, alongside an additional pay-off of Shs 400 million to other backbench Parliament commissioners.
In response to these revelations, NUP stated that Hon. Mpuuga participated in a meeting of senior party leaders, including all Deputy Presidents, convened by party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, on Wednesday.
“At the meeting, Rt. Hon. Mpuuga admitted that he indeed took part in this wrongdoing and apologised for the same,” said NUP in a statement on Thursday.
“In light of this, he was strongly advised that the moral thing to do in the circumstances is to step down from his role as Parliamentary Commissioner with immediate effect.”
It remains unclear if Mpuuga, who was recently sacked as Leader of Opposition by Bobi Wine, will resign as Parliament Commissioner.
NUP said the values of the National Unity Platform are “Discipline, Reliability, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Patriotism and Service,” adding, “All actions of corruption and abuse of office go contrary to these values.”
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