Mpuuga continues to grab attention, fueled by a fallout with his party leaders over an alleged appropriation of Shs500m, a sum deemed illegal and conflicting with the fundamental values of the NUP.
The recent days witnessed a theatrical exchange of accusations and finger-pointing, triggered by the party’s revelation of a document from a meeting held on February 28, 2024. During this gathering, attended by the Former Leader of the Opposition, Mpuuga reportedly confessed to pocketing the contested funds, offering an apology, but was sternly advised to step down from his role as Commissioner of Parliament.
Having been replaced as Leader of the Opposition on December 22, 2023, by Joel Ssenyonyi, Mpuuga retained a favorable position as Bobi Wine appointed him Commissioner of Parliament, succeeding Zaake, who faced removal in a noteworthy parliamentary vote in early 2022.
In response to the corruption allegations, Mpuuga issued a strongly-worded statement asserting that the money, which he and three other commissioners shared, is not illegal. He defended it as part of the privileges bestowed upon him as the former leader of the opposition.
A recent party-shared document reveals that a meeting was convened earlier this week to address the Mpuuga-Bobi Wine impasse. Despite being invited, Mpuuga chose to skip the meeting, prompting a decision to recall him from his position if he fails to provide a satisfactory written statement within seven days.
The notice, signed by Dr. Lina Zedriga Walu, acting party president, reads, “At its sitting held on March 4, 2024 (to which you were invited but did not attend), the National Executive Committee considered the serious accusations against you and resolved to ask you to show cause in writing why you should not be recalled from the Parliamentary Commission, to which the Party Seconded you as a member. You are requested to respond within seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this notice to enable the National Executive Committee to take an appropriate decision.”
