East African Gazette
Kampala
The deputy president for Northern Uganda Lina Zedriga, National Unity Platform (NUP) has written to Parliament to replace Mathias Mpuuga as Parliamentary commissioner.
“NEC has resolved to recall Mpuuga from Parliamentary commission looking at the element of corruption, and abuse of office, and to notify Parliament that they have nominate MP Francis Zaake as Parliamentary Commissioner” Zedriga said
Zedriga,is currently acting as the party President of NUP who was delegated the powers by the party President Robert Kyagulanyi.
The decision of the former leader of opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, as commissioner of Parliament was made in response to the party since he was notified on the 7th March to give a response in 7 days that elapsed yesterday.
Mpuuga’s notice to be recalled from parliament contained a letter dated March 15, that NUP was not convinced with Mpuuga’s defense. Mpuuga is accused of receiving Sh 500 million from Parliament as a service award, an act NUP classifies as corruption.
MP Mityana Municipality, Francis Zaake, 33, who was once commissioner before he was dismissed over disciplinary issues.
“In light of this NEC has resolved to recall Mpuuga from the parliamentary commission account of corruption, dishonesty and abuse of office and to notify Parliament of the same. NEC further resolved to nominate Hon Zaake Francis i as parliamentary commissioner, Dr Zedriga said.
Zaake previous he was illegally removed from that role in March 2022 in order to pave way for the grand corrupt and questionable dealings of the parliamentary commission that have now come to light
NUP said in a statement issued by Dr Lina Zedriga, NUP’s deputy president for Northern Uganda. She is acting president.
It remains to be seen whether NUP’s decision will be implemented by Parliament which has a different interpretation on how someone can be replaced as commissioner.
Parliamentary rules stipulate that a commissioner can only lose his/her slot after being voted out by two thirds of the entire House.
But Mpuuga represents their interests in the commission, they have the right to recall him, she said.
Justice Irene Mulyagonja, who delivered the lead judgment, stated, “The deputy speaker/Among ought to have resolved the question of her interest in the matter as soon as possible in the public interest as it is required by the code of conduct of members of parliament in the rules. When she did not do so, she acted in conflict of interest and reflected that she was biased.”
The Constitutional court invalidated a parliamentary resolution that dismissed Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake from his position as a parliamentary commissioner.
In a majority 4-1 decision, the court ruled that the then deputy speaker Anita Among,who presided over the matter violated the principles of natural justice by not recusing herself as the complainant.
Why was Zaake dropped as commisioner?
Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Zaake ceased being a Parliamentary Commissioner following a vote on motion moved to have him out on grounds of misconduct.
This was in a secret ballot conducted out of 161 members of Parliament, 155 MPs voted to remove Zaake from the Parliament Commission while only four MPs voted against the proposal to remove hime.
MP Zaake’s removal comes after Parliament also adopted the report of the Committee of Rules, Discipline and Privileges with amendments that was Chaired Abdu Katuntu.
The vote followed debate of the report of the committee that found Zaake in breach of public trust and confidence. Zaake was probed for statements he made on social media disparaging the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among.