In a surprising turn of events, Veronica Nanyondo, the Woman Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukomansimbi District, has withdrawn her support for the motion seeking to censure four backbench commissioners of Parliament. Nanyondo, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), cited deception and a misunderstanding regarding the purpose of the document she had previously signed.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Anita Among, Nanyondo expressed her intention to disassociate herself from the motion, stating that she was misled into signing what she believed to be an attendance list for a meeting called by the Leader of the Opposition. She emphasized her desire to rectify the situation by officially withdrawing her support for the motion.
Nanyondo’s decision comes after Herbert Kinobere, the Member of Parliament for Kibuku County and Vice Spokesperson of the NRM Caucus, ordered all NRM MPs not to sign the censure motion against the commissioners until they receive guidance from their party chairman, President Museveni. Kinobere’s directive was seen as an attempt to block the censure motion, which has gained significant support from MPs across the political divide.
The censure motion, led by Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, accuses the four commissioners of abuse of office and misconduct for allegedly distributing Shs1.7 billion among themselves as a service award. The motion has been signed by over 120 lawmakers, with Ssekikubo expressing hope that the required 177 signatures to table and debate the motion in Parliament would be collected.
Nanyondo’s withdrawal of support for the motion is seen as a significant blow to the censure campaign, which has been gaining momentum in recent days. However, proponents of the motion remain steadfast in their pursuit of accountability and transparency in Parliament.
The developments highlight the ongoing power struggles and political tensions within Uganda’s Parliament, with MPs from different political parties vying for influence and control. As the censure motion continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether the four commissioners will face consequences for their alleged actions.
Veronica Namaganda Nanyondo is a Ugandan politician representing Bukomansimbi District as a Member of Parliament. She is a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party. Nanyondo’s political career began in December 2015, when she ran for office under the Democratic Party (DP) ticket, inspired by her sister Suzan Namaganda, who had passed away in a road accident.
Nanyondo’s educational background includes primary school at Kisojjo Primary School, where she attained her Primary Leaving Examinations in 1998. She then attended Mende Kalema Memorial S.S., where she attained her Uganda Certificate of Education in 2002. She continued her education at St. Andrew Kagwa S.S., earning her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 2004. Finally, she attended Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
Before entering politics, Nanyondo worked as a Sales and Marketing Executive at Unique Business Systems from 2010 to 2011. She then taught at St. John S.S Mukono from 2011 to 2013. Currently, she serves as a director at Ver Stationaries Limited.
Nanyondo’s political aspirations were driven by her desire to continue her late sister’s work. She was elected as the Woman MP for Bukomansimbi District, garnering 23,815 votes. She is focused on commercial agriculture, seeking to empower her constituents by improving farming practices and linking them to markets for their produce
In addition to her political pursuits, Nanyondo is dedicated to helping the needy and advocating for human rights. She is a sister-in-law to Fred Mukasa Mbidde, a representative in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and a sister to the late Suzan Namaganda, who was Mukasa Mbidde’s wife ¹ ².
