By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, has hailed the court ruling that upheld the Shs1.7 billion Service Award, saying it vindicates his team’s argument that the award was legally approved in Parliament.
Kampala High Court Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza ruled that the Service Award was indeed included in the national budget and approved by Parliament, dismissing claims of illegality.
In his ruling, Justice Singiza emphasized that “the impugned payment was approved by Parliament in the Appropriation Bill under the title ‘Ex-gratia for Political Leaders… the fact that this vote formed part of the Appropriations Act is proof that the Minister of Finance had the opportunity to scrutinize the payment and that Parliament approved the ex-gratia vote.”
In a media interview, Mpuuga lambasted MPs leading the censure motion against the Commissioners, calling them “clueless” about Parliament rules and practices.
“With the court ruling, I will be informing Ugandans my next step especially all the things that have been done by individuals that have been trying to soil my image and reputation by hiding other such issue and it is a pity that some of these individuals claim they are educated, but I will leave that to God.
Whatever the Court has given us, we shall move with that maybe, the people God gave heads that have mouths, ears, eyes and brains, the ruling of court could help them to know that they should never use their mouth alone, but they should use all the parts on their head,” remarked Mpuuga
He described them as a “burden to taxpayers” for their failure to understand the legal basis of the Service Award.
Mpuuga urged Ugandans to engage their brains and ears, not just their mouths, saying that had they done so, they would not have orchestrated an eight-month campaign to tarnish his image and reputation over the Service Award.
“The Court in its powers decided that some right thinking Ugandans and those who have been following the discussion that any MP that doesn’t understand the processes of Parliament is just a burden to taxpayers.
The Court’s ruling is what we said from the start that all these matters were handled legally. Individually, this issue has been capitalized on by many people to disrespect me, but I want to thank all Ugandans who stood with me,” said Mpuuga .
However, Mpuuga maintains that the award was legally approved and that the court’s decision has cleared his name.
“All those people that have been backstabbing me, I wait to see what they are going to tell the nation about me, but in all this, I will continue fulfilling my responsibility and I won’t waste my efforts on people that have been wasting my time.
They have harmed me for the past 8months focusing all their energy on me as an individual but that is how things are now, I will be informing the nation of my next step,” added
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