By MunaMubendeOwensonga
Tomorrow, Monday, at 2 pm, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo and his team will submit a list of 186 legislators to the Clerk of Parliament, Jane Kibirige, compelling leadership to debate the Shs1.7b Service Awards given to four Parliamentary Commissioners.
Ssekikubo, joined by Ms Sarah Opendi and Mr Alion Odria, aims to remove three NRM legislators and former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, accused of misappropriating the awards.
The motion is grounded in Section 5(4) of the Administration to Parliament Act, which states:
“A member of the commission, other than the Speaker and the Leader of Government business, may be removed from office by Parliament for inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising from infirmity of body or mind, misbehaviour, misconduct or incompetence.”
Additionally, Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda outlines the process for removing a commissioner, requiring a minimum number of signatures on the notification sent to the Clerk’s office seeking space on the order paper.
The rule states: “A motion for the resolution under this rule shall be placed on the Order Paper, 14 days from the date on which notice to remove the commissioner shall have been communicated to the clerk.”
Legislators from various parties have appended their signatures in support of the motion, including Patriotic League Movement’s David Kabanda and Micheal Mawanda, who is currently on remand for cases related to corruption.
However, some lawmakers have declined to support the motion, including Opposition members Joyce Bagala (NUP), Abed Bwanika (NUP), Micheal Kakembo (NUP), Twaha Kagabo (NUP), Bashir Kaziwe (NUP), Medard Ssegona (NUP), Brenda Nabukenya (NUP), and Juliet Nakabuye (NUP). Some FDC legislators, such as Anna Ebaju, Anthony Akol, Geoffrey Ekanya, Moses Kabusu, Florence Kabhugho, and Geofrey Katusabe, have also not signed the motion.
Despite House Speaker Anita Among blocking debates on the corruption allegations, Ssekikubo has gathered sufficient support, exceeding the required 177 signatures.
The motion will be tabled and debated, with Ssekikubo presenting evidence against the commissioners.
However, not all lawmakers support the motion.
Abdu Katuntu, the Chairperson of the Rules Committee of Parliament and Bugweri MP, said:
“I am the chairperson of the rules committee of Parliament which is charged with the responsibility of investigating any issue or allegations of misbehaviour.
Given that role, I cannot participate in being an accuser because these are potentially matters that may come to my committee.”
Other opposers of the motion include:
- Wilfred Nuwagaba, the Shadow Attorney General, who said: “Every commissioner should be treated independently. The issues surrounding [Mathias] Mpuuga happened when he was LoP, not a commissioner.”
- Ojara Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi lawmaker, who said: “I have not been able to see the grounds that they have stated. I have not read the contents of the motion.”
- Kira Municipality lawmaker Ibrahim Ssemujju, who simply said: “Mpuuga and I are friends.”
- Medard Lubega Ssegona, Busiro County MP, who stated: “I cannot support the motion because it was Parliament that approved the reward money the commissioners received. We cannot punish them for something we authorized.”
Civil society organizations praise Ssekikubo’s efforts, urging Parliament to revise its rules to facilitate easier addressing of corruption and allow citizen participation.
Opponents argue for individual treatment of commissioners and unclear grounds for removal.
The motion’s success hinges on securing half of the 529 lawmakers’ votes.
If passed, it will pave the way for the removal of the commissioners, pending a vote by at least half of all Members of Parliament.
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