NUP leader Kyagulanyi explains tough stand on Mpuuga

04 Mar 2024

BY URN

The war of words between National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, and Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga is far from over.

A few hours after the former Leader of the Opposition declined to resign over the controversial 500 million Service Award he got from the Parliamentary Commission, the NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu hit back insisting that Mpuuga was bribed.

“I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me,” said Kyagulanyi, adding that, “the moral thing for him to do would be to apologize to the nation and step down from the Parliamentary Commission.”

Kyagulanyi went on, ” The LOP like all MPs earns a salary and allowances. However, on top of that, the LOP also earns extra allowances and gets facilitated by Parliament to enable him or her fulfill the duties of that office. What, then, justifies an extra Service Award for an office which is duly facilitated with a budget for its operations, over and above what ordinary MPs earn?”

Mpuuga on Friday in a statement denied that the sh500 million that he allegedly received as a service award from the Parliamentary Commission was a bribe.

He explained that every decision for the Parliamentary Commission to confer or reward anyone under its charge is subjected to the relevant committee of parliament for legality, feasibility, sustainability, and relevance. In summary, Mpuuga who is currently a member of the Parliamentary Commission insists he did nothing wrong to warrant his resignation.

Mpuuga said if such payments amounted to corruption, all current and previous MPs would be compelled to refund to the public coffers monies paid as gratuity or honoraria since no MP, current and previous was not paid gratuity at the determination of the Parliamentary Commission.

But in the court of public eye, the fact money that Mpuuga received is not provided for under the law, and that fact the former Leaders of the Opposition, Professor Ogenga Latigo, Nathan Nandala Mafaabi, Wafula Ogutu, Winnie Kiiza and Betty Awol Ochan were not awarded raises questions.

The same questions have been raised within his National Unity Platform party. Robert Kyagulanyi said Mpuuga’s statement does not address the real issue of the 500 Million Shillings, and instead indirectly tries to justify this extreme act of immorality and corruption.

NUP President Kyagulanyi outlined on his X formerly Twitter handle ten reasons why he insists that Mathias Mpuuga was bribed. He wondered what Mpuuga offered in exchange for the five hundred million shillings drawn from the public coffers.

“What Did Mpuuga give in exchange?”   

The question of what Mpuuga gave in exchange is part of Kyagulanyi’s argument, as he insists that the 500 million shillings awarded to Mpuuga constitutes corruption—an act he deemed illegal, immoral, and contrary to the values Mpuuga was supposed to uphold in Parliament.

“We all know that a matter involving huge sums of money which is not legislated but a matter of negotiation normally involves GIVE AND TAKE. The people of Uganda would love to know what the Hon. Mpuuga gave in exchange for this big favor” Kyagulanyi asked.

According to Kyagulanyi, as a party that nominated Mpuuga as its Leader of Opposition, they ought to be consulted in the party was not consulted because Mpuuga said it was a matter of personal finance.

“We believed that as a Party that nominated Hon. Mpuuga to the position of Leader of the Opposition, we should have been consulted on a matter of this magnitude. Indeed, I regularly speak with Hon. Mpuuga on most major issues. But I also learned about this matter on social media and initially dismissed it as fake propaganda. I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me. When asked why he didn’t discuss this with the Party (or at least the President), he said it was a matter of personal finance! Really?” Kyagulanyi wrote.

Furthermore, Kyagulanyi alleged that the meeting that passed what he described as illegal benefits sat on the 6th of May, 2022, shortly after Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was pushed out of the Commission on 10th March 2022, but Zaake was never considered.

“Although Hon. Zaake was previously a Member of the Parliamentary Commission who lost his seat illegally, he was never considered for the so-called Service Award! Tasked to explain this, Hon. Mpuuga said that they were waiting for the outcome of the court case Hon. Zaake filed. Yet in the first place, the award was supposed to be given regardless of length of tenure! It therefore raises questions about why the Award went only to Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners and not to Hon. Zaake.”

“It will be remembered that Hon. Zaake’s witch-hunt started the day he started questioning the conduct of the Parliamentary Commission, where he chaired the Audit Committee! He was immediately kicked out for trying to expose whatever rot was going on there.”

Mpuuga noted that there is a deliberate campaign to character assassinate him but he is ready for the worst.

“The campaign to character assassinate me is deliberate and I am perfectly aware. It’s well-orchestrated and well-funded. I am ready for the worst if it takes this sacrifice to return sanity and common sense to our politics.”

Mpuuga has faced several allegations of holding backdoor negotiations with the government, with the most prominent one coming in February last year when he was accused of negotiating the release of two NUP members of parliament, Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya from prison, after a year and a half year there. But Mpuuga flatly rejected any talks with the government.

NUP LEADER’S STATEMENT IN FULL

10 REASONS WHY THE 500 MILLION SHILLINGS TO HON. MATHIAS MPUUGA WAS AN ACT OF CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF OFFICE

Facts:

On 6th May, 2022 there was a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission attended by Ms. Anitah Among, Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners of Parliament. This was two months after Hon. Zaake was illegally removed from that position. In that meeting, these leaders awarded themselves a collective amount of 1.7 billion shillings. Hon. Mpuuga was allocated 500 million shillings, while the three others were each awarded 400 million shillings. It was not until the minutes of the Parliamentary Commission were ‘leaked’ to the public almost two years later, that we all got to know about this.

Upon return to the country, I convened an urgent meeting of senior leaders of the Party who included all Deputy Presidents, the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, the current Leader of the Opposition, the National Treasurer, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi and Hon. Betty Nambooze. (Also invited was Hon. Medard Sseggona, who unfortunately was not able to attend.) In the presence of these leaders, Hon. Mpuuga admitted that the leaked minutes were genuine. He admitted that it was wrong and immoral and apologized for the same. He regretted his actions and categorically stated that in hindsight, he should never have involved himself in such.

He was strongly advised to step down from the Commission in public interest because that is what leaders do. He requested for some time to consult with and prepare his family and other stakeholders, which we agreed to, because it was only fair.

When the one day agreed upon passed and following several reminders, we decided to issue a public statement on the matter because it is indeed a public matter for which the people of Uganda expected answers. It is their money we are talking about! Before that, I personally kept in touch with him and implored him to do the moral thing, in order to save his image and that of the Party.

Unfortunately, following our public statement, Hon. Mpuuga has now released a statement apparently moving away from his earlier position and apology. His statement does not address the real issue of the 500 Million Shillings, and instead indirectly tries to justify this extreme act of immorality and corruption.

I have noted that some people do not have the full context of this matter, hence the need for this clarification.

Here are 10 reasons why this money-heist was illegal, immoral and wrong- and totally unexpected from a person we delegated to represent our values in Parliament, and lead the charge against corruption and misuse of public resources.

1. As all former Leaders of the Opposition have confirmed, none of them ever received a ‘Service Award’. What was special about the service of Hon. Mpuuga to warrant a Service Award that was never given to his predecessors? Secondly, even if Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Parliamentary Commissioners had done anything exceptional, would it be up to them to sit and award themselves for a job well done? I mean, it defeats basic logic for anyone to say they are awarding themselves- moreover with hundreds of millions of tax payers’ money. Does that mean that every public servant should now sit in his office and allocate some money to themselves for feeling good about themselves and the work they do?

2. In the widely shared minutes of the Parliamentary Commission, it was clearly indicated that the said money was ‘person to holder’- meaning that it would not extend to any of the former or subsequent Leaders of the Opposition. They would be the first and last to receive this money. In our meeting with Hon. Mpuuga, he stated that the reasoning here was that every incoming LOP should negotiate his or her own ‘Service Award’. Really? We asked, “What if the next LOP negotiates for 10 billion shillings of tax payers’ money as his or her Service Award? How would we explain this?”

3. Conflict of Interest. Except under special circumstances, a leader is not expected to take part in a discussion involving self enrichment on his or her part. Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002) provides that “A leader shall not participate in the deliberations of a public body or boardor council or commission or committee, of which he or she is a member at anymeeting at which any matter in which he or she has a personal interest is to bediscussed.” This law provides that where this provision is violated, the leader must cease to be a member of that public body or Commission and make good the loss caused to the public.

This is intended to prevent abuse and to ensure that decisions are arrived at objectively and legally. If Hon. Mpuuga had excused himself from a discussion regarding these personal monetary benefits, it would perhaps mitigate the problem. But we are confronted with a situation where the LOP and three other NRM Commissioners sat and allocated themselves hundreds of millions of tax payers’ money without shame! They themselves determined how much they deserved! How can anyone justify this?

4. The minutes of that particular meeting state that the 500 Million Shillings would be paid to Hon. Mpuuga regardless of length of tenure- meaning that even if he was to serve for only 1 year, he would receive this exact amount. Those likening it to gratuity are therefore wrong, because gratuity is calculated on the basis of how long a person serves in a particular office. In any case, gratuity is paid to someone at the end of their term of office and not during their term. Gratuity must ideally also come in the letter of appointment as one of the entitlements of an office. In this case, the discussion of the ‘Service Award’ came mid-term.

Relatedly, would it be moral for the LOP and other Commissioners to earn their gratuities as MPs and also award themselves ‘Service Awards’ at the same time? And the tax payer is expected to shoulder both burdens?

5. Legality. There is no law which provides for a ‘Service Award’ to a Leader of the Opposition and other Parliamentary Commissioners. Although some regime apologists have tried to liken the LOP to other leaders such as the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister, the Administration of Parliament Act specifically provides for their benefits upon retirement. Although we believe that some of these benefits are also excessive and immoral for a poor country like Uganda, at least there is a law under which those payments are made. On the other hand, the so-called “Service Award” was an extreme case of greed not rooted under any law. The citizens of Uganda would want to know where that money came from. We are speaking of a collective amount of 1.7 billion shillings! Under what vote was this money spent? Because Parliament, like every other Institution, must spend in accordance with the approved budget. In addition, the law provides that the LOP is at the same level as a Cabinet Minister and no Cabinet Minister is entitled to a Service Award during or after their term of office.

Very importantly, the Supreme Court of Uganda in 2019 (Parliamentary Commission versus Wilson Mwesigye) held that the Parliamentary Commission does not have the power to impose any charge on the consolidated fund in the absence of a Bill or motion generated by the Executive arm of government. The Court went as far as saying that it is illegal for MPs to increase their salaries and emoluments without such a Bill or motion. In this particular case, Anita Among, sat together with Hon. Mpuuga and three NRM Commissioners, and awarded themselves 1.7 billion shillings off the consolidated fund in which Uganda’s tax payers keep their money! The two representatives of the Executive, i.e. the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance were not in attendance. (Not to say that their attendance would take away the other illegalities and immorality). So it was clearly illegal and criminal.

6. The LOP like all MPs earns a salary and allowances. However, on top of that, the LOP also earns extra allowances and gets facilitated by Parliament to enable him or her fulfill the duties of that office. What, then, justifies an extra Service Award for an office which is duly facilitated with a budget for its operations, over and above what ordinary MPs earn?

7. The meeting which passed these illegal benefits sat on the 6th of May, 2022, shortly after Hon. Francis
@ZaakeFrancis
was illegally pushed out of the Commission on 10th March 2022. Although Hon. Zaake was previously a Member of the Parliamentary Commission who lost his seat illegally, he was never considered for the so-called Service Award! Tasked to explain this, Hon. Mpuuga said that they were waiting for the outcome of the court case Hon. Zaake filed. Yet in the first place, the award was supposed to be given regardless of length of tenure! It therefore raises questions why the Award went only to Hon. Mpuuga and the three NRM Commissioners and not to Hon. Zaake. It will be remembered that Hon. Zaake’s witch-hunt started the day he started questioning the conduct of the Parliamentary Commission, where he chaired the Audit Committee! He was immediately kicked out for trying to expose whatever rot was going on there.

8. We, the people of Uganda, have regularly called out the Museveni regime on its excessive expenditure. The NUP manifesto for 2021 clearly castigated the regime for nugatory expenditure. We pledged that once we take over government, we would substantially cut down the cost of public administration and invest more in public services especially healthcare and education. We pledged to run a lean and efficient government and cut down all forms of wasteful expenditure.

In 2017, the people of Uganda, including Hon. Mpuuga, collectively and unequivocally condemned Museveni’s handshake of 6 billion shillings to 42 government officials who participated in an arbitration in London. The regime then described it as a service award to those officials, and claimed the reason was because they saved the government more than 2.4 trillion shillings.

Even then, we all condemned that payment because government officials are paid for the work they do. The select Committee of Parliament which probed the matter concluded that the officials should refund the money because it was irregular. Parliament directed the officials to refund the money and called on the IGG to investigate the heist. As always, Gen. Museveni defied Parliament, defended the illegal payment and the debate ended there.

So, why was it right for us to attack regime officials for this irregular payment even when they tried to justify it, and not now when there is no single justification whatsoever?

9. We believed that as a Party that nominated Hon. Mpuuga to the position of Leader of the Opposition, we should have been consulted on a matter of this magnitude. Indeed, I regularly speak with Hon. Mpuuga on most major issues. But I also learnt about this matter on social media and initially dismissed it as fake propaganda. I couldn’t believe that my Deputy President would get involved in a matter of this gravity and not say anything about it- not least, to me. When asked why he didn’t discuss this with the Party (or at least the President), he said it was a matter of personal finance! Really?

10. We all know that a matter involving huge sums of money and is not legislated but a matter of negotiation normally involves GIVE AND TAKE. The people of Uganda would love to know what the Hon. Mpuuga gave in exchange for this big favor!

For these reasons, we believe that this was an extreme act of corruption which Hon. Mpuuga admitted initially and apologized for! It is on record. It was both illegal and immoral, no matter how many heavy words are used to justify it.The moral thing for him to do would be to apologize to the nation and step down from the Parliamentary Commission. That remains his choice.

Share a story, comment or opinion

Got news or feedback about this story or others? We’d love to hear from you.

RELATED STORIES

75 comments
  1. You are so interesting! I do not think I have read something like
    that before. So wonderful to discover another person with some unique thoughts
    on this issue. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up.

    This site is something that is required on the web, someone with some originality!

    Also visit my web site :: رتبه های برتر کنکور تجربی ۱۴۰۴

  2. hello there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here.

    I did however expertise some technical points using this web site,
    as I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it
    to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect
    your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
    Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more
    of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this
    again very soon.

    my page … رتبه برای مامایی ۱۴۰۴

  3. Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources
    back to your weblog? My blog is in the exact same niche as yours and my users would definitely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks!

    Feel free to visit my homepage: request sanjesh

  4. I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

    https://derelictmetal.com/

  5. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
    I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or
    if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

    My web-site … پشتیبانی بام

  6. Этот информативный текст выделяется своими захватывающими аспектами, которые делают сложные темы доступными и понятными. Мы стремимся предложить читателям глубину знаний вместе с разнообразием интересных фактов. Откройте новые горизонты и развивайте свои способности познавать мир!
    Получить дополнительную информацию – https://quick-vyvod-iz-zapoya-1.ru/

  7. Hello there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering
    which blog platform are you using for this site?
    I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
    I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

    my web site … فرهنگیان یا مهندسی

  8. Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your blog.

    You have some really great posts and I feel I would be a good asset.
    If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely
    love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
    Please send me an e-mail if interested. Regards!

    Here is my website :: با رتبه زیر ۱۰۰۰ تجربی چی قبول میشم

  9. Hey There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is a very smartly
    written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more
    of your helpful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.

    Also visit my homepage; ژیمناستیک فرهنگیان

  10. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my
    own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get setup?
    I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?

    I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% certain. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Many thanks

    My website … با رتبه ۲۰۰۰ زبان چی قبول میشم

  11. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite
    reason appeared to be on the internet the easiest thing to
    be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people
    think about worries that they just don’t know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined
    out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take
    a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

    my website: با رتبه ۲۰۰۰۰ هنر چی قبول میشم

  12. hello there and thank you for your information – I have certainly picked up anything new from
    right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this website, as I experienced
    to reload the website lots of times previous to I could
    get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage
    your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
    Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for
    a lot more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    my webpage :: با رتبه ۵۰۰۰ انسانی مدیریت بازرگانی قبول میشم؟

  13. What i don’t realize is in fact how you are not really a lot more smartly-liked than you might be right now.
    You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably with regards to this
    matter, made me for my part believe it from numerous varied angles.

    Its like women and men aren’t fascinated except it is something to accomplish
    with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great.
    At all times deal with it up!

    Here is my web-site … آینده شغلی زیست شناسی سلولی مولکولی

  14. OMT’s bite-sized lessons protect ɑgainst bewilder, enabling gradual love fⲟr mathematics t᧐
    bloom and motivate constant examination prep ᴡork.

    Discover the convenience ⲟf 24/7 online math tuition аt OMT, wһere appealing resources mаke finding ᧐ut enjoyable аnd
    reliable for all levels.

    Aѕ mathematics underpins Singapore’s reputation f᧐r excellence
    in worldwide criteria ⅼike PISA, math tuition іs essential to оpening a kid’s prospective ɑnd protecting academic benefits in thіѕ core topic.

    Ϝor PSLE success, tuition սses personalized assistance to weak ɑreas,
    lіke ratio and portion issues, avoiding common risks tһroughout the examination.

    Math tuition instructs efficient tіme management methods, helping secondary
    students tоtal O Level examinations ᴡithin the allocated duration ԝithout rushing.

    In а competitive Singaporean education ѕystem, junior college math tuition ρrovides trainees tһe ѕide to accomplish
    hіgh grades required f᧐r university admissions.

    OMT sets іtself ɑpart with an educational program tһat
    enhances MOE curriculum սsing collective ⲟn-ⅼine forums fоr goіng over exclusive
    mathematics obstacles.

    Gamified aspects mɑke modification fun lor, motivating mοre technique and resultіng in quality enhancements.

    Singapore’ѕ emphasis օn analytic in mathematics tests makes tuition essential fоr creating crucial assuming
    abilities Ƅeyond school hoᥙrs.

    my blog – primary 5 math tuition singapore

  15. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation;
    many of us have developed some nice procedures and we are looking
    to trade techniques with other folks, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.

    Feel free to visit my homepage; مهندسی صنایع یا مکانیک

  16. Wealth Ancestry Prayer seems really
    interesting for people who want to connect with their roots while also inviting more abundance into their lives.

    I like that it focuses on spiritual alignment and positive
    energy, rather than just material gain. It feels like a meaningful practice for those who believe in combining faith, heritage, and prosperity.

Leave a reply

NEWSLETTER

Enter your email address below to subscribe to my newsletter

CONNECT & FOLLOW
Politics