A group of farmers from Rubanda District in western Uganda has called for the resignation of their Woman Member of Parliament, Ms. Prossy Mbabazi Akampurira, following allegations of misappropriating public funds. The farmers allege that Ms. Akampurira, along with three other legislators, allocated themselves a substantial sum of taxpayers’ money as a service award, totaling Shs1.7 billion.
Ms. Akampurira is reported to have received Shs400 million from this allocation, alongside former Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, Esther Afoyochan, and Solomon Silwany, all members of the Parliamentary commission.
Expressing their dismay, Mr. Martin Byamukama, chairperson of the Rubanda Farmers Association, emphasized the betrayal felt by constituents who entrusted Ms. Akampurira to champion their interests with integrity and accountability. He highlighted the detrimental impact of such actions on essential sectors like education and healthcare, contrasting with the self-serving priorities of elected officials.
The farmers’ protest was prompted by revelations that Mr. Mpuuga and the three other members of the Parliamentary commission approved the allocation of Shs1.7 billion as a service award on May 6, 2022. The allocation sparked outrage on social media, with taxpayers condemning Parliament for its unchecked expenditure and perceived extravagance, particularly under the leadership of the House Speaker.
Despite President Museveni’s recent defense of the Speaker against these allegations, Rubanda farmers, led by Mr. Byamukama and Ms. Agatha Kyatuheire, expressed disappointment in their MP’s participation in the allocation. Ms. Kyatuheire demanded the immediate reimbursement of the allocated funds, stressing that they should benefit the collective welfare of Ugandan communities rather than personal enrichment.
Additionally, Ms. Akampurira was urged to issue a public apology and acknowledgment of her actions. Mr. Byamukama emphasized the necessity for Ms. Akampurira to resign from her position as Commissioner of Parliament, citing the gravity of the allegations and the erosion of public trust.
Residents, including Morris Turyamureba, Susan Ahimbisibwe, and Ray Kwesiga, echoed these sentiments, urging Ms. Akampurira to return the money to the national treasury or allocate it to constituency development projects.
Despite attempts to reach Ms. Akampurira for comment, she remained unavailable at the time of publication.
