The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Mathias Mpuuga has told off haters who accused him and his shadow cabinet of doing nothing to execute the orders given to them by their boss Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine concerning the alleged Shs.40m bribe.
Upon getting information that NUP MPs and their colleagues from other political parties had allegedly received Shs.40m from the home of the Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among in Nakasero, a Kampala suburb, Bobi Wine directed his party legislators to return the money through the office of the LOP Mpuuga with immediate effect.
However, no legislator returned the money as the principal had directed.
Surprisingly, last month, Bukoto South legislator Dr. Twaha Kagabo returned the alleged Shs.40m bribe in cash to Mpuuga who refused to receive the money.
Mpuuga gave Kagabo security and directed him to return the money where he picked it from.
Multiple credible sources revealed that Bobi Wine, who was in Nairobi as an elections observer blasted Mpuuga in a phone call conversation for doing nothing in help Kagabo to get justice.
“The principal wanted to know why Mpuuga and his shadow cabinet didn’t escort Kagabo to the office of the speaker or her home to return the money as a sign of solidarity,” a source said.
However, when he appeared on CBS radio’s Kiriza oba gaana, a political talk show, Mpuuga blasted those accusing him of not doing enough to fight corruption in parliament.
“Please, stop telling me those things of not helping Kagabo to take money back to where he picked it from. Who told you that I am a luggage deliverer to deliver each and every luggage brought to my office at parliament?” Mpuuga asked.
He explained that as the leader of the opposition, his role in the Kagabo scandal was to guide him on the way forward as he did but not involve himself in the saga.
Mpuuga revealed that parliament, being a political wing of government where many political decisions are made, faces a lot of temptations from those who want to compromise them through bribes to drive their agendas.
Mpuuga insisted that he will insist on guiding legislators as a senior legislator on how to overcome such temptation and work for Ugandans who sent them.
“We have to be open to our voters that parliament is not a garden where they send legislators to get for voters what to eat. I told that to my voters in Masaka. Parliament is for legislating good laws and policies for good governance,” Mpuuga said.
He further blasted those who thought that MPs are young people who are there to be ordered and directed on what to do. He insisted that legislators are mature people who understand the good and bad, and no one should think for them.
Mpuuga made the statement after meeting his principal Bobi Wine at his home in Magere in Wakiso district where sources claim that the Kagabo’s issue was top on the agenda.
Commenting about the meeting, Bobi Wine later posted on his social media platforms that he discussed many challenges that face the opposition in parliament and how best to lead other people through the cause of liberating Ugandans.
“While most of our leaders have performed well and stuck to the cause thus far, there are some legitimate points of disappointment which we need to address head-on. It is our duty as leaders to frankly discuss them and find solutions. We have a country to liberate!” Bobi Wine stated.
Recently, Bobi Wine threatened to expose all his party legislators who accepted the alleged Shs.40 million bribe and refused to return it.
Speaker Among denied the allegations of bribing legislators and referred Kagabo to the parliamentary committee on Rules and privileges for disciplinary action.
Sources at the Rules and Privileges Committee have disclosed that Mpuuga and Among are among the witnesses who the Committee is set to summon to testify over the allegations of giving bribes and corruption.
Kagabo is also currently facing detectives from the office of the Inspector General of Government.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
Leave a Reply