By Executive Editor

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Party has given Commissioner of Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, a 7-day Ultimatum.

The NUP continues to call out Mpuuga for awarding himself Shs 500 million.

In a February 28, 2024, meeting, Mpuuga reportedly told his Party that he took the money. The NUP asked him to apologize, return the money and step down from the position of Commissioner of Parliament.

According a letter dated March 5, 2024, the NUP party has given Mpuuga an ultimatum. The NUP wants Mpuuga to explain in writing why he should not be recalled from Parliament as Commissioner.

The letter

As you are aware, the nation has been rocked by a scandal regarding corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement of public affairs by the leadership of the Parliament of Uganda. Unfortunately, your name has been adversely mentioned in the said corruption scandal. You are specifically accused of sitting together with the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among and three other Parliamentary Commissioners and unlawfully allocating a total of 1,700,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings One billion, Seven Hundred Million) to yourselves as “Service Awards” on the 6th day of May, 2022, while you served as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. In the said meeting, you were personally allocated 500,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings Five Hundred Million). You admitted both in the meeting which the President convened at the party offices on 28th February, 2024 and publicly, that you indeed took part in this action, which we consider illegal, immoral and a clear departure from the values and objectives of the National Unity Platform. It goes against Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002) which bars leaders from taking part in deliberations where matters of personal interest to them are to be discussed. Importantly, it goes against our commitment to the people of Uganda to handle public affairs diligently and public resources with care. At its sitting held on 4th March, 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 member. You are requested to respond within Seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this notice to enable the National Executive Committee take an appropriate decision.

Lina Zedriga Waru Acting President