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Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) addresses Parliament
According to Mr Ssekikubo, more than 60 legislators have already appended their signatures in favour of the motion and he is optimistic that by the end of next week, they will have all the needed 177 signatures.
Legislators fronting censure of Parliamentary Commissioners have accused their very targets of intimidation as the motion gathered pace in Parliament on Thursday.
Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) (L) with MP Patrick Isingoma. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
A section of legislators led by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) is calling for the removal of all four MPs from the Parliamentary Commission over the Shs1.7 billion they shared amongst themselves as service award.Photos by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) (L) with MP Patrick Isingoma.
Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The censure motion against Parliamentary Commissioners Mathias Mpuuga, Solomon Silwany, Esther Afoyochan and Prossy Mbabazi has gained momentum with legislators saying it is one to draw the line to distinguish those for the people and against the people of Uganda.
These are members of parliament flocking the desk to append signatures to the motion seeking to censure commissioners for sharing Shs1.7 billion in March 2022 as service award.
egislators have expressed skepticism over a censure motion initiated by Lwemiyaga County’s Theodore Ssekikubo to remove Parliamentary Commissioners Solomon Silwany, Esther Afonyochan, Prossy Mbabazi, and Mathias Mpuuga from office.
The motion, which accuses the commissioners of abusing their office by soliciting Shs400 million each as service awards and Shs500 million for former Leader of the Opposition Mpuuga, has met resistance from within Parliament.
Led by MP Lutamaguzi Ssemakula, some members have questioned the integrity and motives behind Ssekikubo’s push.
“I support the motion 100 percent, but I will be the last person to append my signature on this motion,” Luttamaguzi told journalists, expressing his mistrust in Ssekikubo’s consistency, citing a previous incident.
“During the last term, you supported the Opposition to push President Museveni from office, but I was surprised to see you later campaigning for him in Lwemiyaga, shouting ‘Museveni oye, Museveni oye, Museveni oye’. Ever since that time, I lost trust in you.”
Luttamaguzi also recalled a similar situation in the 10th Parliament, where MP Odonga Otto [then of Aruu County] allegedly solicited signatures for a censure motion against a cabinet minister, only to use them for personal bargaining.
“We were duped by Hon. Otto here for the censure of a cabinet minister. He solicited our signatures and then flew to London,” he stated.
Despite the push from Ssekikubo and five other MPs, the motion’s success appears uncertain due to these trust issues and past experiences of manipulation for personal gain.
Nyendo Mukungwe MP Mpuuga was just 10 months into office as Leader of the Opposition when he sat in a meeting that discussed the so-called service award that has since been deplored as corruption and immoral.
Legislators affiliated to the Patriotic League of Uganda, a loose civic grouping led by First Son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba were among the first to append their signatures and in numbers.
These explained their choice to censure commissioners.
These attracted more others to sign.
Ms Sarah Opendi, one of the faces behind the censure motion, however, has revealed that the embattled commissioners are threatening members against the process with some trading propaganda.
“We know that whoever appends a signature is being called and threatened. Infact there are MPs who are scheming to grab our lists but we can not allow that to happen,” Tororo Woman MP Opendi said.
While concerned, they vow not to relent to punish their errant colleagues. Other legislators expressed concern that they can not continue going to the field without pay yet huge somes are shared by a few.
“We go for field visits and the commission doesn’t pay us but people are here awarding themselves. Awarding themselves for what good?” Rose Obiga, the Terego Woman MP.
Yorke Alion (Aringa South) remarked, “The time is now, Parliament is the highest institution in this country, we aren’t going to promote acts of corruption. Commissioners are our representatives and we advised them to resign, up to today, they have refused to step aside. We are now taking action to impeach them.”
As this continued, the Speaker also checked in on the MPs collecting signatures.
By the close of the day Thursday, more than 90 signatures are believed to have been collected. The censure motion requires at least one-third of Parliament’s composition, which is 170 signatures.