As the motion to remove Mathias Mpuuga and three other NRM commissioners over the Shs 1.7 billion service awards gathers pace, there are some opposition members that are hesitant to append their signatures. The mover, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikuubo, says they have collected more than 100 signatures of the required 177 to push the matter to the floor of Parliament. So, who are these opposition members who believe Mpuuga and group don’t deserve to be hanged over the service awards?
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda
While Ssemujju has fashioned himself as a vocal critic of corruption and bad governance, in this particular case, he appears conflicted.
He has often said he met Mpuuga at Masaka Secondary School in the early 1990s and the two became friends. Ssemujju is therefore unlikely to sign the motion.
Medard Sseggona
Sseggona, the MP for Busiro East is among the legislators from Buganda who Mpuuga to Bulange when he went to buy kits for the Kabaka Birthday Run in April. The two were leaders in Mengo in the late 2000s and are close. He is unlikely to join the chorus of those baying for Mpuuga’s blood.
Muwanga Kivumbi
Kivumbi, the Butambala MP, seems to have decided to sit out this one. His comments after it was revealed that Mpuuga received Shs 500 million as a service award appear to have been supportive of Mpuuga. The two are close from their DP days and were prominent members of the Ssuubi 2011 pressure group.
Betty Nambooze
While Nambooze clearly leans towards the NUP leadership at Kavule in the standoff with Mpuuga, like Ssemujju, she is hamstrung. The two share a long history of working together and Mpuuga is one of the people who convinced her to join NUP ahead of the 2021 elections. On this one, she is likely to abstain.
Joyce Bagala
Bagala, the Mityana Woman MP, is firmly in Mpuuga’s corner and it is not surprising that she is yet to append her signature to the motion that seeks to censure Mpuuga and other commissioners. Mpuuga is one of her political mentors and therefore she will do anything to defend him.
Abed Bwanika
Bwanika, the Kimanya-Kabonera MP, has been a vocal supporter of Mpuuga since the issue of service awards came up. He has been very critical of the NUP leadership over the way it handled the matter. His refusal to sign the censure motion is not surprising.
Juliet Nakabuye Kakande
Nakabuye, the Masaka Woman MP, has supported Mpuuga from the word go and has been critical of her party NUP. She is therefore unlikely to sign the motion.
Richard Sebamala
The Bukoto Central MP has been visibly quiet on the issue of the censuring Mpuuga. Whereas he is a member of DP, he comes from the greater Masaka region where Mpuuga is influential. He is not likely to sign the motion.
