A section of Members of Parliament led by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West), Sarah Opendi (Tororo Woman MP), Patrick Nsamba Oshabe (Kassanda North) and Yorke Alioni Odria (Aringa South) have started a process to censure four Commissioners of Parliament who participated in the sharing of Shs1.7 billion taxpayers money as ‘service award’.
The commissioners are former leader of opposition, Mathias Mpuuga (MP Nyendo – Mukungwe), Esther Afoyochan (Zombo Woman MP), Solomon Silwanyi (Bukooli Central MP) and Prossy Mbabazi Akampurira (Rubanda Woman MP).
Ssekikubo called for the removal of all the four from the Parliamentary Commission, over the Shs400M-Shs500M they shared amongst themselves as service award, saying their ouster will restore the dignity & integrity of Parliament, and also maintain & strengthen the public trust and confidence in Parliament.
He made the remarks during a press briefing at Parliament.
Sekikubo accused the commissioners of misconduct when they made ‘deals’ to award themselves a monthly salary of Shs23M, on top of the salary they’re already drawing as MPs without seeking approval from the House.
He noted that the censure motion will only require 177 signatures, calling on all MPs to come out of hiding and append their signatures to the censure motion.
“Duty demands that MPs must come back, they can’t keep hiding, we aren’t interested in other officers, but the Commissioners are ours, we must set the example, we must say no to the misconduct, to the diversion of public funds for personal aggrandizement and this is the time. The Commissioners, now is their time, they can step down, they can resign before the motion catches up with them,” he said.
Sarah Opendi (Tororo DWR) asked Ugandans to ensure that all MPs append their signatures on the censure motion remarking, “I also want to call upon the voters to cross check whether your MPs have appended their signatures, we shall be publishing this list and please see those MPs who aren’t here to serve you and MPs.”
In his remarks, Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) thanked Ssekikubo for initiating the censure motion, saying this will save MPs who have been criticized for their silence over the service award among their electorates.
“In our areas they have been attacking us that we were all bought because we are saying nothing. And all our efforts must be geared towards putting the image of this institution ahead of others. Look at our new chambers that they are building, they are all stuck, now we appointed Commissioners, they are supposed to push for the construction of the new chambers but they are there enjoying themselves with money,” he said.
