Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga and Bukooli Central MP Solomon Silwanyi have enlisted the help of their colleague, Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, to defend them in a court case involving a substantial amount of money. The case, which is worth 1.7 billion shillings, also implicates three other parliamentary commissioners.
The lawsuit was initiated by a well-known city lawyer, Male Mabirizi, last month. It is being heard in the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Buganda Road in Kampala. In addition to Mpuuga and Silwanyi, the defendants include the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, Rubanda Woman MP Prossy Mbabazi Akampurira, and Zombo Woman MP Esther Afoyochan.
On Wednesday, June 5, Asuman Basalirwa, a seasoned lawyer, addressed Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, who is leading an effort to censure the four commissioners. Basalirwa informed Ssekikubo that the 1.7 billion shilling case is now sub judice, meaning it is under judicial consideration and therefore not to be discussed in the House.
“Why do you waste time over something that will not be discussed? This issue will not make it to the plenary session because the moment I see it on the Order Paper, I am going to rise up and say, ‘Right Honourable Speaker, this matter is sub judice’. Who will allow something sub judice to go on?” Basalirwa questioned.
Basalirwa revealed that he had been officially instructed to represent Mpuuga and Silwanyi in the court proceedings. “I went to court to represent Silwanyi and Mpuuga over the Mabirizi case. They gave me the instructions,” Basalirwa confirmed, sparking a heated debate with Ssekikubo and other colleagues in parliament.
Ssekikubo expressed confusion and concern over Basalirwa’s stance, questioning why he was pre-emptively deciding the outcome of their motion. Ssekikubo emphasized that the court case does not prevent them from gathering signatures to censure the commissioners. “But why are you in anticipation? Have you become the Speaker?” Ssekikubo asked Basalirwa.
The censure effort stems from allegations that the four commissioners shared 1.7 billion shillings as a one-off service award from the Parliamentary Commission in May 2022. Ssekikubo and his colleagues are pushing to publish the list of MPs who support the censure motion.
Parliamentary rules state that any signature on a censure motion cannot be withdrawn. Once at least one-third of MPs have signed the motion, the sergeant-at-arms must forward the list to the Clerk. With a total of 529 MPs in the 11th Parliament, excluding the 28 ex-officio members, the censure motion requires 176 signatures to proceed to the Order Paper, which is the official schedule of Parliamentary business for the day.
Basalirwa is well-known for his role in pushing the anti-homosexuality bill. He argued passionately, claiming to represent the will of the Ugandan public. Many Ugandans saw him as a defender of traditional values and supported him despite ridicule and attacks. His efforts were widely applauded, and his bill eventually became law, increasing his national credibility.
Now, the same Basalirwa is opposing his colleagues’ efforts to censure four parliamentary commissioners accused of misappropriating 1.7 billion shillings. This contradiction raises questions about his consistency. When he had a burning agenda, he relied on public and parliamentary support. But now, when his colleagues pursue a similar process, he is vehemently opposing it and even threatening legal action.
he is now facing criticism for opposing his colleagues’ censure motion against the parliamentary commissioners. This contradiction raises questions about his consistency and motives.
