Opinion by Mr. Golooba Richard A Political Analyst
National Unity Platform (NUP) in a statement issued on X platform, but not signed by anyone has advised Nyendo Mukungwe MP, Hon Mathias Mpuuga to step down from his role as parliamentary commissioner on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. One may wonder is it really on corruption and abuse of office or a political revenge on him. Insiders and political analysts have a seemingly different view on the unfolding events, as they claim that Hon Mpuuga is being sacrificed for the redemption of the party ahead of the 2026 elections.
They contend that the National Unity Platform is headed for the heaviest defeat come 2026, if they want to play politics similar to the National Resistance Movement, which has been around for close to 40 years. The #ParliamentExhibition cannot be a yardstick to gauge someone to step down. How can money earned legally by an MP be treated as a bribe? Yet all NUP MPs are paid by the Parliamentary Commission from which they remit their monthly deductions. Should we take it that all NUP MPs in parliament are corrupt?
In a Republic like Uganda, citizens are both rulers and ruled (to use Aristotle’s definition). They make joint, binding decisions about life and death matters after airing their differences in public fora. Sometimes, a citizen must pay a high political price, for instance, being drafted, in modern days prosecuted, judged, and sentenced on social media.
National Unity Platform, wants to revenge on Hon Mpuuga for having stood strong against “Kunga Uganda” a mobilization drive in Masaka City, which was launched last year, whose motive was to galvanize the party’s structures. Not everything has to be based upon individual needs and “me politics”. Does sacrificing individual needs for the common good no longer exist?
There was a time when allegations came out that MPs got about 100 million, including NUP MPs, but no one came out to call them to resign for that. Politics in Uganda over time has seen individuals sacrificed. Let’s watch the space.
