What Mayiga told Ssenyonyi, Rubongoya on Bobi-Mpuuga feud

Kampala, (UG):- The leadership of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) yesterday met and held discussions with the Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga among which the topics of the day entailed the ongoing feud between President Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and his Buganda Deputy, Hon Mathias Mpuuga.

Although details of the high-level meeting between the two organs remained scanty by Wednesday evening, the party maintained its stance that it would not expel Mpuuga as its deputy president with officials tracking back on the internal storm and crisis after meeting the influential Buganda Kingdom cultural institution.

While addressing the NUP leaders led by Leader of Opposition and Party Spokesperson, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, Katikkiro Mayiga waded into the heated standoff, calling for talks between the opposed sides saying good leadership should be characterised by mutual respect.

“We urge political players to be very keen on the observance of human rights starting with yourselves. You need to be patient, respect and talk to one another,” Mayiga said, adding; “I think is better for good leadership to sit down and talk to one another with patience and listen to wise counsel because you have to keep on serving the public when you are together.”

Shortly after the morning meeting, Mr Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the NUP’s deputy spokesperson, said even with concerns about “indiscipline” and corruption, the party believes Mr Mpuuga can still be redeemed.

“We follow the process of the law. We have not yet given up on these people. We believe they are ‘rehabitable’ [sic]. We don’t want to hand them over to the dictator. We are working day and night to have them regain their senses. All we ask is that he apologises to the nation,” Mr Mufumbiro said.

“We wanted the country to know that we are not working with Mpuuga as commissioner, because we know the dubiousness going on in the commission. He has also shown he is indisciplined and he has clearly shown that he is working with [President] Museveni,” Mr Mufumbiro said when asked on the party’s position on Speaker Among’s letter rejecting the withdrawal of Mpuuga as Parliament Commissioner.

Meanwhile. Mr Ssenyonyi emphasized that the party stands by its principles and will follow possible procedures to implement the rightful process.

“As a party, there are different ways we handle issues. We do talk, engage and other times there are sanctions. The way we react to some of our leaders or members does not mean that we do not love them but we have to stick to our core values,” he said.

“When you’re being disciplined, it’s important because the Bible says that pride comes before a fall because we need to be humble as leaders and follow what’s right.”

Sources privy to NUP’s Tuesday meeting at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule said a discussion on Speaker Among’s March 25 letter rejecting the Mpuuga withdrawal was inconclusive, further claiming that the absence of Mr Kyagulanyi, who is said to be abroad, may have contributed to the indecision.

The Wednesday meeting was attended by Nakawa West Legislator, Hon JoelSsenyonyi who is Leader of the Opposition in the Uganda Parliament, the NUP Party Secretary General Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, various NUP MPs and other party leaders.