On the 6th of May, 2022, a significant meeting convened by the Parliamentary Commission witnessed the presence of notable figures such as Ms. Anitah Among, Hon. Mpuuga, and three NRM Commissioners of Parliament. This gathering occurred two months following the unjust removal of Hon. Zaake from his position.
Shockingly, during this assembly, these leaders sanctioned a collective allocation of 1.7 billion shillings to themselves. Hon. Mpuuga secured 500 million shillings, while the three others received 400 million shillings each. The revelation of these proceedings only came to light nearly two years later when the minutes of the Parliamentary Commission were “leaked” to the public.
Upon my return to the country, I promptly convened an urgent meeting with senior party leaders, including all Deputy Presidents, the Secretary General, the current Leader of the Opposition, the National Treasurer, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, and Hon. Betty Nambooze.
Despite extending an invitation to Hon. Medard Sseggona, unfortunately, he could not attend. During this meeting, Hon. Mpuuga acknowledged the authenticity of the leaked minutes, admitted the wrongdoing, and offered a sincere apology. He expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that he should never have engaged in such behavior.
In the interest of public trust and accountability, Hon. Mpuuga was strongly urged to resign from the Commission—a decision aligned with the responsibilities of leadership. Granting him time to consult with his family and stakeholders was deemed fair.
However, despite the agreed-upon timeframe passing and several reminders, Hon. Mpuuga’s subsequent public statement deviated from his earlier position and apology. His statement failed to address the core issue of the 500 million Shillings and instead attempted to justify this flagrant act of immorality and corruption.
To provide clarity on the matter, it’s imperative to outline ten reasons why this appropriation of funds was both illegal and unethical:
1. The notion of awarding oneself a ‘Service Award’ without precedent or basis is fundamentally flawed and illogical. Such actions undermine public trust and misuse taxpayers’ money.
2. The decision to allocate funds exclusively to Hon. Mpuuga and select NRM Commissioners, without consideration for past or future Leaders of the Opposition, raises serious questions about fairness and transparency.
3. The involvement of Hon. Mpuuga in discussions concerning personal financial gain constitutes a clear conflict of interest, contrary to established legal and ethical standards.
4. The manner in which the 500 million Shillings was allocated, irrespective of tenure, contradicts the principles of gratuity and raises concerns about responsible fiscal management.
5. The absence of legal provisions for a ‘Service Award’ to the Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Commissioners renders the appropriation of funds unlawful and unjustifiable.
6. The additional allowances and resources already allocated to the Leader of the Opposition make the notion of a ‘Service Award’ redundant and excessive.
7. The timing of the meeting, occurring shortly after the unjust removal of Hon. Zaake, raises suspicions of political motivations and further undermines the integrity of the process.
8. The discrepancy between condemning similar acts of excessive expenditure by the regime and engaging in similar practices oneself highlights a lack of consistency and moral leadership.
9. The failure to consult the party on such a significant matter demonstrates a disregard for internal accountability and transparency.
10. The lack of transparency regarding any exchanges or negotiations preceding the appropriation of funds raises concerns about potential quid pro quo arrangements.
In light of these reasons, Hon. Mpuuga’s initial admission of wrongdoing and apology stand as testament to the gravity of the situation. It is incumbent upon him to uphold the principles of integrity and accountability by apologizing to the nation and resigning from the Parliamentary Commission. Ultimately, the choice lies with him.
