NUP insist Mpuuga must resign, given seven days to defend self against allegations

Kampala, (UG):- The leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has given the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, an ultimatum of seven (7) days to formally defend himself over alleged corruption, or relinquish the office of parliamentary commissioner.

According to the letter dated March 05, 2024, issued by the NUP acting president Dr Lina Zedriga Waru, the NUP National Executive Committee which sat on Monday, March 04, resolved to recall Mpuuga from his position as Parliament Commissioner unless he provides a satisfactory explanation in writing over “serious accusations of Corruption and Abuse of Office in relation to the 500million “service reward” he was allegedly awarded by Parliament at the end of his tenure as Leader of opposition.

The letter to Mpuuga, which the NUP leaders claim was delivered on Tuesday, highlights mismanagement of public affairs and abuse of office by the leadership of Parliament which they say has evolved into a scandal.

“As you are aware, the nation has been rocked by a scandal regarding corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement of public affairs by the leadership of the Parliament of Uganda. Unfortunately, your name has been adversely mentioned in the said corruption scandal You are specifically accused of sitting together with the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon. Anita Among and three other Parliamentary Commissioners and unlawfully allocating a total of 1.700,000,0001= (Uganda Shillings One billion. Seven Hundred Million) to yourselves as ‘Service Awards’, the 6th day of May, 2022. while you served as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. In the said meeting, you were personally allocated 500,000,0001= (Uganda Shillings Five Hundred Million).”

“You admitted both in the meeting which the President convened at the party offices on 28th February 2024 and publicly, that you indeed took part in this action, which we consider illegal, immoral and a clear departure from the values and objectives of the National Unity Platform. It goes against Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Ad (2002) which bars leaders from taking part in deliberations where matters of personal interest to them are to be discussed. Importantly, it goes against our commitment to the people of Uganda to handle public affairs diligently and public resources with care,” the letter adds.

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To this effect therefore, Dr Zedriga says during its sitting on 4th March 2024, NUP’s NEC resolved to take serious accusations against Mpuuga and thus he must provide satisfactory reasons in writing why he should not be recalled from the Parliamentary Commission, to which Mpuuga must respond within seven days.

“At its sitting held on 4th March 2024 (to which you were invited but did not attend), the National Executive Committee considered the serious accusations against you and resolved to ask you to show cause in writing, why you should not be recalled from the Parliamentary Commission, to which the Party seconded you as member. You are requested to respond within Seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this notice to enable the National Executive Committee to take an appropriate decision.”

This, according to her, will guide the party’s leadership on the necessary actions to take.

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Below is a copy of the letter from NUP notifying Mpuuga of a decision to recall him from the Parliamentary Commission