Senior leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) convened a crisis meeting on the evening of March 26 after Speaker of Parliament Anita Among rejected their attempt to withdraw Mr. Mathias Mpuuga from a prominent House position. Mpuuga, representing Nyendo-Mukungwe constituency, had earlier defied calls within his party to resign from his role as a parliamentary commissioner.
The crisis meeting, held at NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, was called by acting party president, Ms. Lina Zedriga, in response to Speaker Among’s letter, dated March 25, which declined the party’s request to withdraw Mpuuga from his position. Amid rapidly unfolding events, the Speaker referenced constitutional and parliamentary rules, stating that once elected, parliamentary commissioners serve the interests of Parliament as a whole, not individual parties.
The standoff began seven days prior when NUP’s Secretary General, Mr. Lewis Rubongoya, wrote to the Speaker requesting Mpuuga’s withdrawal and replacement with Francis Zaake. However, Speaker Among cited legal constraints, emphasizing that parties lack the authority to recall elected commissioners.
The rules stipulate that a commissioner can only be removed for specific reasons outlined in the Constitution, such as misconduct or incompetence, or through a resolution of Parliament supported by one third of voting MPs.
Central to the dispute is an allegation by NUP that Mpuuga engaged in corruption by accepting a “service award” alongside ruling party members, totaling Shs1.7 billion. Mpuuga defends his actions, stating they were lawful, and accuses the party leadership of targeting him for personal gain.
Despite NUP’s attempt to remove him due to its zero-tolerance for corruption policy, Mpuuga remains adamant, accusing his colleagues of defamation. The rift exposes broader divisions within NUP’s leadership, with Mpuuga criticizing the party’s leadership style and advocating for internal reforms.
The situation threatens to escalate into a leadership challenge between Mpuuga and NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, with potential implications for the party’s influence in Buganda. Buganda’s premier, Charles Peter Mayiga, has called for dialogue between the two leaders to resolve their differences.
