Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament (MP) Theodore Ssekikubo has faced significant challenges with his censure motion aimed at four parliamentary commissioners, including former Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, over a contentious Shs1.7 billion service award.
For several weeks, Ssekikubo and his associates have tirelessly attempted to garner support from their fellow MPs, urging them to sign the motion that seeks to censure Mpuuga, Esther Afoyochan (Zombo District Woman MP), Solomon Silwany (Bukholi Central), and Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi (Rubanda District Woman MP).
Despite their efforts, Ssekikubo has repeatedly postponed the deadline for gathering the necessary signatures, unable to reach the required number. On June 24, Ssekikubo announced a change in strategy, revealing plans to tour various constituencies across Uganda to collect signatures from MPs currently on recess. This initiative aims to bridge the gap and meet the signature quota needed to move forward with the censure motion.
According to Ssekikubo, they have already amassed 167 signatures and need just a few more to meet their target. In a bid to exploit every available opportunity to reach legislators, Ssekikubo seized a chance at a recent event. The occasion was a thanksgiving ceremony held at Booma Grounds in Hoima to celebrate the appointment of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
During the event, MPs were given the opportunity to address the audience and praise Gen Muhoozi. However, when Ssekikubo attempted to take the microphone to speak to the supporters of Gen Muhoozi and his Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Hoima Woman MP Harriet Businge intervened and blocked him, leaving him frustrated and disgruntled.
Businge, who also serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Bunyoro Parliamentary Caucus, accused Ssekikubo of attempting to disrupt their event. She alleged that Ssekikubo intended to embarrass the MPs for refusing to sign the Mpuuga censure motion. She firmly stated that MPs from Bunyoro would not permit a legislator from Buganda to intrude on their event and potentially mislead the public.
Businge further criticized Ssekikubo for his conduct, claiming that he had tried to forcibly seize the microphone to address an event where he was not officially invited. She pointed out that Ssekikubo is not a known supporter of the first son’s PLU and its presidential ambitions.
Despite lingering around the stage in the hope that he would be allowed to speak, Ssekikubo’s attempts were in vain. He expressed his disappointment, revealing that his primary reason for attending the event was to find enough MPs to sign the censure motion and close the gap of nine signatures that he and his group were struggling to obtain.
Ssekikubo condemned the PLU for their failure to uphold the values of patriotism they profess, especially when it comes to fighting corruption and demanding accountability. Gen Muhoozi’s uncle and interim PLU leader, Michael Nuwagira, also known as Toyota, explained that Ssekikubo was not anticipated at the event. He noted that Ssekikubo was denied the microphone due to time constraints and the unexpected nature of his presence.
Ssekikubo has previously alleged that some MPs have been coerced into taking trips abroad or have faced pressure from higher authorities to withdraw their signatures from the motion. This claim adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts to censure the parliamentary commissioners.
In a show of solidarity, Mpuuga and his fellow commissioners attended the thanksgiving event, during which Mpuuga discussed his potential aspirations to become the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and, eventually, the president of Uganda.
