Kampala, Uganda. It seems that Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, AKA Bobi Wine, the President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), had prior knowledge of the Ugx500 million service award payment to Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in 2022 but remained silent, according to new findings by the Observer of March 6, 2024.
But people may wonder why he remained tight-lipped even after learning about it. However, there wasn’t clear evidence pinning Mpuuga, the Member of Parliament for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, also NUP vice president.
However, multiple sources familiar with the situation have indicated that Kyagulanyi received information Mpuuga’s service award at the time Ugx40 million which was fraudulently disbursed to parliamentarians in 2022.
But details leaked from the May 2022 Parliamentary Commission meeting disclosed the decision to award Mpuuga a one-time service honorarium of Ugx500 million, and Ugx400 million allocated to each of the three Commissioners from the National Resistance Movement.
Despite Kyagulanyi publicly stating that he became aware of the payment through a social media anti-corruption campaign targeting parliament, the sequence of events suggests prior knowledge.
Nevertheless, according to reliable sources who spoke to The Observer anonymously due to concerns about potential reprisals, Kyagulanyi was indeed informed about the payment but opted not to take action, citing a lack of evidence. One source disclosed, “He said there was no evidence for him to act.”
The source did not reveal whether Kyagulanyi had discussed the matter with Mpuuga after learning about it.
When Mpuuga was replaced in December 2023 and appointed as a parliamentary commissioner, filling the void left by the impeachment of Francis Zaake in 2022, Kyagulanyi’s close associates argued that the party needed someone acceptable to Speaker Annet Anita Among.
“Even if we had reappointed him (Zaake), they would have refused to confirm him in the position, yet we needed that representation,” a senior party leader explained at the time.
Zaake was appointed as the deputy chief whip and shadow minister for the presidency and security. However, Among contested the appointment, citing a lack of adherence to the law.
Another party official, granted anonymity, criticised Kyagulanyi for appointing Mpuuga despite knowledge of the substantial funds he had accepted to received, now characterised as corruption.
“Let Bobi Wine stop acting like he didn’t know. We told him it was wrong to appoint Mpuuga again because he wasn’t clean, but he refused to listen because the politics then didn’t allow him to act,” the official asserted.
Despite Mpuuga’s efforts to mobilise MPs against the shadow cabinet appointments, Kyagulanyi appointed most of those individuals to their desired positions, leading them to abandon the boycott.
However, the public tension between Mpuuga and Kyagulanyi escalated following the revelation of the Ugx500 million payout during the parliamentary exhibition.
While it is challenging to defend Mpuuga on the financial matter, some sources argue that Kyagulanyi is exploiting the situation for his political advantage.
There are also allegations that Joel Ssenyonyi, the current Leader Of The Opposition, acting on behalf of Kyagulanyi, leaked the minutes of the Parliamentary Commission to exhibitors to further undermine Mpuuga’s influence in parliament.
Ssenyonyi, still struggling to gain widespread acceptance among MPs, is perceived differently from Mpuuga, who was known for his financial generosity. Many opposition MPs remain quiet about the unfolding fallout in their WhatsApp group, with only a few staunchly supporting Kyagulanyi.
“We have been avoiding a fight against Kyagulanyi because we thought he would affect us politically, but now he has called for it,” one MP expressed. This legislator further hinted at plans to expose Kyagulanyi before the next election, asserting that “By the time we are done with him, many people will realise what hot air he is.”
Efforts to reach Ssenyonyi for comment were unsuccessful as his known telephone number was switched off before press time.
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