Parliamentary Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga has challenged Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi to provide evidence supporting his claims that he and other commissioners received Shs 400 million each in a new service award.
Ssenyonyi alleged, without presenting proof, that the payouts had taken place and were routed through the Parliamentary SACCO to avoid scrutiny. He named four beneficiaries, including Mpuuga, Solomon Silwany, Esther Afoyochan, and Prossy Akampulira Mbabazi, and claimed the total payout amounted to Shs 1.6 billion.
He added that the said money was apparently was intended to see them through the campaign season.
“Let him present the documents or evidence on the table. I do not want to comment on such matters as I am focused on the work of my party and our candidates,” Mpuuga said, in an interview local radio station noting he had kept quiet on the matter until now.
He accused Ssenyonyi of misleading the public into thinking there are “bags of money in Parliament that one simply walks in and pockets.” Mpuuga added that the Leader of the Opposition is playing to the gallery after failing to fulfill his duties.
Nyendo Myukungwe, MP and former Leader of the Opposition, also criticized Ssenyonyi, suggesting the allegations are a distraction from the Nakivubo scandal implicating several NUP members.
“Their party is tainted with corruption scandals, including the Nakivubo giveaway involving their councillors. This appears like an attempt to cover up,” he said.
Parliamentary spokesperson Chris Obore has denied that any service award payments were made to the commissioners and demanded that the Leader of the Opposition present evidence to support his claims.
Ssenyonyi, however, defended his position in a post on his X account, saying time will reveal the truth, as previous warnings about corruption in Parliament have been proven correct. He recalled a past case where Shs 40 million was secretly given to several MPs. “Many colleagues said we were lying and tarnishing Parliament’s image, but eventually Hon. Twaha Kagabo was seen pacing up and down Parliament stairs with the Shs 40 million in a bag,” he wrote.
He also referenced the first “service award” controversy, which contributed to a fallout within NUP. At the time, recipients, including Mpuuga, who was then Leader of the Opposition and NUP Vice Chairperson for Buganda, initially denied receiving the payouts and suggested he had personal issues with them. Later, they acknowledged the payments.
“So, even with this second ‘service award’ of Shs 400 million to each of the four commissioners, they will likely deny it and offer all sorts of explanations,” Ssenyonyi added.
