The collection of signatures to impeach embattled Commissioners of Parliament seemed to be entering its last mile yesterday as the legislators collecting them addressed the press.
For over three weeks since the mobilization started, the movers have gathered 145 signatures and thus must mobilize at least thirty-two more for them to table the motion. They hoped to end this exercise by yesterday but failed.
While addressing media at Parliament, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo seemed upbeat, but also castigated those that had refused to sign so far, including those that are outside the country, and those upcountry. He called on the MPs outside Kampala to come back in time and append their signatures.
Seemingly frustrated by the slow pace, Ssekikubo advised that the country did not have to run around looking for signatures to impeach the commissioners, and advised them to surrender to the corruption war and accept the motion to impeach them, and be examples of good leadership to the country.
The Speaker’s compromise
He spoke after a meeting with the Speaker where he assured her that the censure motion was not about her and would not target her. He reported that the Speaker pledged to allow the motion to go on, unlike in the past where the efforts have been thwarted.
“We are staying put. We have had a meeting with the speaker, and she is equally concerned. She indeed said that once the MPs feel that they need to discuss the matter, so be it.” Ssekikubo said.
Nandala’s big boost
In the same briefing, Ssekikubo lauded Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Secretary General (SG) for appending his signature to the motion. “We are happy with the Secretary General of the FDC has signed. He has been a big boost to the exercise, and he is a former Leader of Opposition so he has lived it…we are so grateful for his guidance.”
Mafabi had not appended his signature since the exercise started, and there was excitement around the corridors of Parliament when he did.
Earlier, he had called for the arrest of all the MPs on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for conspicuously approving the 1.7bn Service Award, saying that the only useful thing the four commissioners have done is to fill Parliament with their relatives. “What did these people do that was very special that we gave them a handshake?”
Ssemujju on Mpuuga’s defense
But long-term opposition legislator Ssemujju Nganda speaks a different tone. While speaking to the New Vision the Kira MP constituency MP, from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) defended his colleague Mathias Mpuuga from political attacks, insisting that the 1.7bn shillings was part of the total budget of the House Commission that was sent to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and passed by the entire Parliament under an item of ex-gratia for political leaders.
“The list of the beneficiaries includes former Speakers and Deputy Speakers. So, if Parliament has passed money, then it cannot be the same Parliament blaming the beneficiaries. Therefore, they are no legal arguments on the money because it was passed by Parliament.”
