MP Mathias Mpuuga said National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi was “under siege” following his “alleged” suspension as Buganda Region deputy president.
“I don’t know how to help you and support you,” he said in a statement on Social Media X on Friday.
Mpuuga said his suspension from the role was part of the “current desperate situation”.
“I saw a document circulating on social media that was supposedly signed by yourself and in the latest manner by the party,” wrote the former opposition leader in Parliament, who is Nyendo-Mukungwe MP.
“If it is indeed your document and signature, I appreciate and sympathize with your current desperate situation.”
“I appreciate and understand that you are under siege. I don’t know how I can help you and support you,” Mpuuga said.
‘Impaired Judgment’
Mpuuga’s response came following a letter from Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, dated March 27, 2024, in which he suspended his deputy.
Kyagulanyi claimed Mpuuga had not provided a satisfactory explanation as to why he was allocated Sh500 million by the Parliamentary Commission.
On Thursday, Mpuuga said he had not seen the letter.
The following day (Friday) the legislature referred to the said letter.
“Given the contents of the impugned document that the suspended person has not given a satisfactory explanation even though the same person is said to have previously confessed and apologized, I do not know how to save you and the party from kidnappers,” Mpuuga wrote .
“The prevailing desperate situation and circumstances in which we find ourselves will give me more time and space to consult with the party’s grassroots on a way forward.”
In his statement, Mpuuga further said: “Accept once again my condolences for the unrelenting siege that has impaired judgment in the highest echelons of the party. I remain available to you and the party and the country.”
Kyagulanyi, a former Kyadondo East MP, accused Mpuuga of attending a meeting with other parliamentary commissioners where they agreed to share Sh1.7 billion as service awards.
“On May 6, 2022, while you held the office of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, a position for which you were seconded by the party, you attended a meeting at which you, together with three Parliamentary Commissioners nominated by the National Resistance Movement, sh1 assigned. 7 billion under the pretext of service bonuses,” said the NUP boss.
He said this was “an act of corruption and abuse of power in contravention of numerous laws, including Section 9(1) of the Leadership Code Act (2002), which prohibits leaders from attending meetings involving matters of personal nature.” Interest in them is “to discuss”.
“They have not yet provided a satisfactory explanation for engaging in this action which is contrary to the vision, mission and objectives of the party (NUP).
“It also violates Article 53 (b) and (f) of the party constitution, which requires party members to conduct themselves in such a way as not to bring the name of the party into disrepute and to exercise responsible leadership,” Kyagulanyi said in the suspension letter.
Adding: “In accordance with Articles 6.3 (h) and 7.1 of the Party Constitution, I hereby relieve you from the position of Deputy President of the NUP for the Central Region with immediate effect and accordingly refer the matter to (the) National Executive Committee for further action.”
When New Vision contacted Mpuuga on Thursday after the letter surfaced, he said he had not yet received the letter and would comment once he received it.
“I will respond as soon as I have access to this letter,” he said.
“I’m not leaving NUP”
Mpuuga’s suspension mid this week came barely hours after the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Father Mayiga, met NUP officials and urged them to sit down and sort out their issues.
On Tuesday this week, Mpuuga spoke to the media about the state of affairs in the NUP, stressing that he was a founding member of the NUP and was not going anywhere.
“I would like to emphasize that I am a founding member of the NUP and serve as deputy president. I will not leave the party that I founded and will not do anything that would destroy a young party that I helped found with conscience and conviction. At least I haven’t reached that level yet,” he said then.
At the time, Mpuuga also said he had seen a copy of a letter on social media calling for his removal from the parliamentary commission.
“I would like to reiterate that I do not admit any wrongdoing, either from a legal perspective or from a common sense perspective. The situation of the law was explained to anyone who wanted to understand it, but without intentionally slandering and defaming me for short-term political security,” he said.
“I would also like to assure all comrades in the fight for a fair Uganda that my commitment has never wavered and that I am not and never will be part of any form of corruption.”
“If we disagree about anything in our midst, we must find mechanisms for a mature solution; this is different from self-aggrandizement and the desire to settle political scores at the expense of the reputation of our comrades with whom we are fighting to provide better leadership to the country.” ”
Mpuugs said Ugandans must be encouraged at all times to question the decisions of their leaders; especially those in higher positions, and make important decisions on their behalf.