Mathias Mpuuga and Fellow Backbenchers Exonerated by High Court
In a case against former opposition leader Mathias Mpuuga and backbench commissioners who received a service award of Shs 1.7 billion, the High Court in Kampala has exonerated them of any wrongdoing.
According to a ruling by Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza, “the decision, dated 6 May 2022, to award the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (Hon. Matthias Mpuuga) Shs 500,000,000, and three other Commissioners UGX 400,000,000 each, as a service award was approved by Parliament and formed part of the budget presented by the executive as required by the Public Finance Management Act”.
As to Justice Karekona’s statement, the commission determines the allowances of its members after consulting with Parliament, in accordance with Section 42 of the Administration of the Parliament Act (AOPA).
The Court additionally decided that the service reward was authorized by Parliament in the “Ex-gratia for political leaders” section of the Appropriations Bill.
“The impugned [questioned] payment was approved by parliament in the Appropriation Bill under the title,” the judgment emphasized that “The impugned [questioned] payment was approved by parliament in the Appropriation Bill under the title ‘Ex-gratia for Political Leaders… the fact that this vote formed part of the Appropriations Act is proof that the Minister of Finance had the opportunity to scrutinize the payment and that Parliament approved the ex-gratia vote.”
Nonetheless, the court has ordered the treasurer and secretary to investigate and punish Adolf Mwesigwa, the clerk to parliament, for his role in the disputed service award.
Former LOP Mathias Mpuuga received Shs 500 million from Parliament, while commissioners Solomon Silwany (MP Bukooli County Central), Prossy Mbabazi (DW MP Rubanda), and Esther Afoyochan (Zombo DW MP) each received Shs 400 million.
The leader of the censure motion, MP Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga county), gave the motion’s draft to the clerk of parliament, Adolf Mwesigwa, along with the motions against Mpuuga and the three backbench commissioners.
The service award caused a stir in parliament and among the public, leading some lawmakers to demand that all recipients of the honor be censured.
