The speaker of Parliament ,Anita Among, has rejected a move by the National Unity Platform ( NUP) to drop the Nyendo – Mukungwe MP , Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba as Parliamentary Commissioner.
On March 18th 2024 ,NUP secretary general Lewis Davis Rubongoya wrote to the speaker, appointing Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake as Mpuuga’s replacement.
NUP’s decision stemmed from allegations of abuse of office and corruption, with accusations that Mpuuga, along with the Speaker of Parliament and other Parliamentary Commissioners, allocated themselves UGX 1.7 billion of taxpayers’ money as service awards.
In response to NUP Secretary-General’s request to withdraw the nomination of Mpuuga and replace him with MP Francis Zaake, Among said political parties under the law have no powers to recall a commissioner from Parliament.
“Parliament Commissioners are elected by Parliament… Once elected, commissioners cease to serve individual party interests and serve Parliament as a whole,” stated Among in her letter.
The Speaker referenced Section 5 of Article 83 of the Constitution, which outlines the grounds for removing a commission member, except for the Speaker and the Leader of Government Business.
“A member of the commission… may be removed from office by Parliament for inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising from infirmity of the body or mind, misbehaviour, misconduct, or incompetence,” read the relevant section.
Among’s letter reiterated that the National Unity Platform’s desire to recall Mpuuga lacked legal basis or foundation.
In 2018, the Forum for Democratic – FDC faced the same dilemma as it sought to withdraw Abdul Katuntu, the then Chairperson of the House’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises – COSASE to replace him with Kawempe South MP, Mubarak Munyagwa.
Similarly, in August 2020, the former LOP Mpuuga’s attempt to remove Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu City West Representative as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee – PAC Local Government and replace him with Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya equally hit a dead end.
