By George Bukenya
The Former Kitikiiro of Buganda government, Daniel Muliika has supported National Unity Platform President Robert Kyagulanyi for asking Mathias Mpuuga to resign his leadership position in Parliament after accepting to bag five hundred million shilling which is alleged to be a bribe.
While addressing reporters at his home in Bukoto, Kampala Central Division, he said its baffling him to here such stories on leaders whom he said had high esteem, integrity and honest, whom he didn’t expect to indulge in such acts.
“ Kyagulanyi is right to ask Mpuuga to resign after accepting Shs 500 million dubbed as service award from parliament yet it has never been passed under the law because even former leaders in that position has not received it.’’ Muliika reasoned.
“Accepting such money that is not described or stated under the law as an individual reward raises several questions. We take this as proof for a bribe,” he said.
He further said some person is always laying traps for opposition leaders especially for NUP which is now the leading opposition political party and this time round Mpuuga landed in his trap but he declined to name such a person.
The Parliamentary Commission which sat on May 6, 2022 which meeting was attended by then Leader of Opposition Mpuuga allocated to themselves Shs1.7 billion a portion of it was to be pocketed by the NUP legislator and the other by three other NRM commissioners.
However, Mpuuga remained adamant on the demands of his Principal, defending his act of receiving hand shake envelop on grounds that the Parliamentary Commission has a right to give gratuity to legislators in their different capacities.
The party leaders think that such money was awarded irregularly and it takes it as a corruption tendency by the commission, that has led to the loss tax payers’ funds which would have been allocated to develop projects that benefit the masses.
Muliika also noted that such acts not only tarnish Mpuuga’s reputation which he built over time but also raise doubts about his commitment to the party’s principles and ethical norms and values.
“He is obliged to explain why it’s acceptable for an individual to receive such huge lump sum yet it’s not commensurate with his party’s values.”
The former Mengo government premier is further convinced that the ongoing indifferences is a proof that some politicians joined NUP without understanding its values and ideologies.
He advised Mpuuga to apologize for his mistake he committed for the good of the party coherent and for his own good if he is to remain reputable.
Muliika urged the NUP leadership to address the issue promptly and ensure that such incidents do not recur, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity within the political sphere.
“NUP’s leadership must not turn a blind eye to such misconduct,” he said. “They should take decisive action to restore public trust and uphold the integrity of our party.”
One of the insiders in NUP intimated to the reporter of this Website that Hon. Mpuuga and his partly will soon be holding a secret meeting aimed at resolving the sour matters having escalated, although he is still holding his stance of not relinquishing is post as a parliamentary commissioner.