Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Ssekikubo has revealed that the ongoing exercise of collection of signatures for the removal of; Esther Afoyochan (Zombo DWR), Prossy Akampulira (Rubanda DWR), Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central) and Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo-Mukungwe) from their positions as members of the Parliamentary Commission, is going on smoothly.
The four MPs are accused of allocating amongst themselves between Shs400m-Shs500M service awards, and a monthly salary of Shs23M, on top of their emoluments as MPs, without seeking Parliamentary approval.
The censure process was recently ignited by a team of MPs who accused the Parliamentary Commissioners of allocating themselves Shs1.7Bn as service awards, and a monthly salary of Shs23M, on top of their emoluments as MPs, without seeking Parliamentary approval.
However, Ssekikubo declined to reveal the number of signatures he has so far gathered, but noted that only 177 signatures are needed.
“We need something like 177 signatures and Parliament should be the last place to run away from debate. The accusations against the four commissioners, they will have their day to explain themselves, so why should anybody fear to come out and explain the Shs1.7Bn shared amongst commissioners? Parliament is the bastion of transparency and accountability. Where are those MPs who came to Parliament chest thumping that they were going to stand for accountability and transparency? For one reason or the other, some have refused to come because we had wanted by the end of this week to close the registration,” said Ssekikubo.
He revealed that the embattled Commissioners have now sought solace from the Speaker to save them, by claiming the censure motion is intended to remove Speaker Among form office.
“We are disappointed that those persons who are clearly named in our motion, they are trying to draw in everything. This motion, I want to retaliate that this motion is aimed at the four MPs, but they are dragging in the Speaker. The Speaker isn’t part of this motion because there are other processes, the IGG, the President, British High Commission, Attorney General, those can suffice and being a corruption crusader, you can’t carry the whole country at ago, leave the others to do their work, you do this one which is yours,” remarked Ssekikubo.
He added, “They have resorted to underhand methods, some are criminal, they posted on our Forum for the Government Chief Whip and they created a fake Twitter account, I am not on Twitter maybe I am not hi-tech, trendy, and they started posting information which they know would cause disaffection amongst my colleagues, Members of Parliament. Stop playing dirty, Commissioners go down well, we can’t be shy to bury you, you saw it coming.”
