Busiro East MP, Medard Sseggona, has said he will not sign the motion to censure Mathias Mpuuga and three other NRM commissioners for receiving billions as “appreciation” for their work.
Addressing a gathering in his constituency last week, Sseggona said “he was too wise and knowledgeable” to join the bandwagon of those who want to censure Mpuuga and others.
He said the Shs 1.7 billion that Mpuuga and others were given was debated by Parliament and therefore it was lawful.
“I am a wise and educated man. Those who are signing are just excited over nothing. They are just abusing Mpuuga for no reason. They were in Parliament when the budget [for service awards] was tabled. It is the same budget where [Moses] Kigongo, [Edward] Ssekandi and [Rebecca] Kadaga were given money as former speakers,” he said.
He said he was ready to brave the criticism that will result from his decision.
“When you talk, they shout at you. When you keep quiet, they say you were compromised. Who amongst us sleeps hungry?”
Sseggona’s stance contradicts his party’s position. The National Unity Platform suspended Mpuuga as deputy president for central region for accepting Shs 500 million as a service award.
In fact, Mpuuga’s successor as leader of opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi has been mobilizing party members to sign the censure motion which is spearheaded by Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo. The movers need at least 177 signatures to force the matter on the order paper of Parliament.
Sseggona joins a number of MPs who have said they can’t append their signature on the motion.
They include Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Joyce Bagala of Mityana and Kampala Central’s Muhammed Nsereko.
Mpuuga and Sseggona served as leaders in Mengo in the late 2000s and are close.
Double standards