The relationship between the president of the National Unity Platform, NUP, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, and his now former deputy president, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga seems to be worsening daily. The latest now is his sacking from his deputy president role, Buganda region by the party president.
A statement signed and released by Mr. Kyagulanyi stated that he has fired Hon. Mpuuga from his job as the deputy with immediate effect. This matter has also been forwarded to the National Executive Committee for further processing.
In the explanation, Kyagulanyi’s statement reads that the Nyendo Mukungwe MP participated in corruption with NRM members where he was allocated Shs 500m. This contracted NUP’s leadership codes and ethics. Therefore, this is an act of abuse of office and corruption.
Its worth noting that, the incident happened in 2022 when Mpuuga was still serving as the Leader of Opposition. According to the former Presidential candidate, Mpuuga has failed to justify himself over this issue. Therefore, he’s left with no option but to axe him.
“On the 6th day of May, 2022, while you served as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament- a position to which you were seconded by the Party, you participated in a meeting at which you, together with three NRM-nominated Parliamentary Commissioners, allocated yourselves 1.700.000.000/= (Uganda Shillings One Billion, Seven Hundred Million), under the pretext of “Service Awards”. You were personally allocated 500,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings Five Hundred Million).” The official announcement reads in part.
“This was an act of corruption and abuse of office, which violated numerous laws, including Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002) which prohibits leaders from taking part in meetings at which matters of personal interest to them are to be discussed.
You have thus far failed to provide any satisfactory explanation for engaging in this action which goes against the vision, mission and objectives of the Party. It also goes against Article 5.3 (b) and (f) of the Party Constitution which obligates party members to conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring disrepute to the name of the party, as well as practice accountable leadership.
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Following Articles 6.3 (h) and 7.1 (e) of the Party Constitution, I hereby suspend you from the position of Deputy President of the National Unity Platform for Central Region with immediate effect, and accordingly refer the matter to the National Executive committee for further processing,” read the full suspension notice signed by Kyagulanyi.
The two big honchos in the party have been clashing through the media on different occasions. A day before this statement, NUP MPs led by the Leader of Opposition, Hon Joel Ssenyonyi visited the Katikiro of Buganda, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga.
He advised them to handle their issues maturely and amicably. Mayiga went ahead to say that not everyone who commits a wrong is killed. Additionally, he told them that is the stage where they have to show capabilities of leading a nation. No sooner had this meeting ended than NUP did the contrary by axing their deputy.
This move which NUP has stuck by of sidelining Mpuuga seems like it’s going to tear the party down. There are already talks of fragmentation in the party. Several of the old-guard MPs who migrate from the DP bloc are said to side with Mathias Mpuuga while a few side with Bobi Wine.
This week the celebrated politician also reiterated how he’s not going to leave the party. This is because he was one of the founders and has a stake in it.
