Speaker Anita Among has rejected a request by the National Unity Platform (NUP) to recall Mathias Mpuuga as commissioner representing the party.
NUP had earlier this month taken a decision to recall Mpuuga after it was revealed that he took Shs 500 million as service award. Many commentators noted that NUP’s decision would have no legal bearing, a fact confirmed by Among.
In a letter to David Lweis Rubongoya, the secretary general of NUP, Among wrote: “…Once elected by Parliament, the commissioner so elected cease to serve individual party interests and serve Parliament as a whole. As such, they can only vacate the position or be removed therefrom in conformity with the law. Section 4 of the Administration of Parliament Act is clear that a member of the commission shall cease to hold office on vacating his/her seat in accordance with Article 83 of the Constitution…”
Among said NUP’s letter asking Parliament to act on their request was improper and “defective in law.”
“Your letter referred to above falls short of the requirements of Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedures and accordingly is incurably defective,” she wrote in her letter dated March 25, 2024.
Mpuuga in a press briefing today also insisted that he would not resign as a commissioner as demanded by the party.
