Samuel Odonga Otto, the former Member of Parliament for Aruu North County, has raised concerns about Robert Kyagulanyi, the Leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), accusing him of hastily blaming the former Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga. Otto contends that Kyagulanyi’s swift judgment not only highlights his lack of information but also underscores his inadequacy for the presidency of Uganda.
The NUP leadership recently demanded the resignation of Mpuuga, who holds the position of the party’s deputy president in the Buganda region. This decision was prompted by allegations of corruption and abuse of office. However, Mpuuga vehemently denied these claims in a statement on Friday, refuting any fraudulent receipt of a Shs500 million ‘service award’ from Parliament.
The media extensively covered the escalating conflict between the two leaders, shedding light on the intricacies of their professional conduct. Mpuuga clarified that the money he received was legally allocated to him by a Commission in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition. The allocation underwent scrutiny from the relevant committees of Parliament to ensure its legality, feasibility, sustainability, and relevancy.
In a video clip, Otto dismissed Kyagulanyi’s accusations against Mpuuga as mere political maneuvering, emphasizing that the law permits the parliamentary commission to determine the salary and benefits of MPs, including those of the Leader of the Opposition.
“Anyone branding Mathias Mpuuga as corrupt and advocating for his resignation is not only unfair and unqualified to be the president of this country but even unfit to be a head prefect due to their lack of knowledge of the law,” Otto asserted.
Reflecting on his involvement in legislative matters during his tenure, Otto provided insights into the evolution of benefits for high-ranking officials. He recalled passing a law around 2006 that granted lifetime benefits to the Vice President, including a salary for life, domestic workers, and a rented house. Over time, this law was amended to extend similar benefits to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Expressing concern over the exclusion of the Leader of the Opposition from these benefits, Otto highlighted the necessity of amending the law to rectify the situation.
Otto criticized the Parliamentary Commission for mishandling the issue, particularly their recent decision to grant a Shs500 million ex gratia payment to any individual assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition. He argued that the Parliamentary Commission should have amended the law to include the entitlements of the Leader of the Opposition and called for fairness in the treatment of parliamentary leaders.
Suggesting that former leaders of the opposition, such as Prof Ogenga Latigo, Betty Oal Ochan, Nandala Mafabi, and Betty Aol Ochan, should also be included in the law, Otto emphasized the need for comprehensive reform.
While Otto acknowledged Mpuuga’s acceptance of the Shs500 million and thanked him for his two and a half years of service as the Leader of the Opposition, he also pointed out the lack of accountability towards the Speaker of Parliament, who earns a substantial monthly salary of Shs500 million.
“The issue lies with the Parliamentary Commission. They should have amended the law to make the entitlements of the Leader of the Opposition statutory,” Otto asserted, calling for a more transparent and equitable approach to the treatment of parliamentary leaders.
