Kampala, (UG):- Suspended National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Buganda, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga has fired back at his Principal, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine saying the party (NUP) is under siege amid the deepening rift between the two leaders.
Mpuuga, who was dismissed as NUP Deputy President on Thursday evening over what was referred to as ‘engaging in acts of corruption and abuse of office’ took to his X platform to express concern on how matters are being handled in NUP these days.
“I’ve seen a circulating document on social media, purportedly signed by yourself, in the latest fashion by the party. If indeed it is your document and signature, I appreciate and sympathize with you on the current desperate situation.” Mpuuga said in a lengthy post via his X platform on Friday 29th March 2024, addressing Kyagulanyi, the NUP Party President.
According to Mr Mpuuga, all signs show that the Party is under siege but he doesn’t know how he can intervene to ensure that things run in a proper manner.
While suspending Mpuuga as his deputy on Thursday, Kyagulanyi, a former Presidential candidate insisted that Mpuuga corruptly received the Shs500 million as ‘service award’ during his term of office as a Leader of Opposition (LoP), something that is against Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002) as well as Article 5.3 (b) and (f) of the party constitution and party principles.
“You have thus far failed to provide any satisfactory explanation for engaging in this action which goes against the vision, mission and objectives of the Party. It also goes against Article 5.3 (b) and (f) of the Party Constitution which obligates party members to conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring disrepute to the name of the party, as well as practice accountable leadership,” Bobi stated further in his letter dated March 27, addressed to party members and the National Executive Committee.
However, while responding to allegations that he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, Mpuuga in his Friday response wondered how he was previously quoted to have confessed and apologized in the first letter asking him to resign, and now quoted as having failed to satisfy the party leader leaders.
“In view of the contents of the impugned document, that the person suspended failed to supply a satisfactory explanation, yet the same person was earlier on reported to have confessed and apologized, I don’t know how to rescue you and the party from the captors,” Mpuuga stated.
“The prevailing desperate situation and the circumstances we find ourselves in will afford me more time and space to consult with the rank and file of the party for a way forward,” he added.
The Nyendo-Mukungwe MP and former Leader of Opposition extended what he described as “sympathies for the unyielding siege that has impaired judgement at the highest echelons of the party.”
He further promised to always remain at the service of the party and the country at large.
Mpuuga’s woes
The National Unity Platform accuses Mpuuga of engaging in acts of “corruption and abuse of office” when he, together with members of the NRM Parliamentary Commission, irregularly allocated himself Shs500m of the 1.7 billion shillings categorised as “service awards” in a meeting chaired by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
At that time, Mpuuga was the Leader of the Opposition in the House before he was dropped from the position and appointed Commissioner of Parliament.
Although NUP asked Mpuuga to return the money he received, apologize to Ugandans, and step down voluntarily from his role as Parliament Commissioner, he has defiantly refused to honour any of the party’s requests.
Mpuuga, who is also the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament while addressing the media on Tuesday maintained his position and said he won’t be forced out or pressured by the party to step down as Commissioner of Parliament.
“I am a founder member of NUP where I serve as a Deputy President. I am not leaving the party I founded and I’m not doing anything that destroys a young party I participated in establishing with conscience and conviction,” Mr Mpuuga told journalists at Parliament on Tuesday this week.
The fast-growing internal bickering in NUP raises concerns on the fate of the biggest opposition political party which is seemingly headed for a split just two years ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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