Censure motion MPs cite intimidation

Legislators fronting censure of Parliamentary Commissioners have accused their very targets of intimidation as the motion gathered pace in Parliament on Thursday.

The censure motion against Parliamentary Commissioners Mathias Mpuuga, Solomon Silwany, Esther Afoyochan and Prossy Mbabazi has gained momentum with legislators saying it is one to draw the line to distinguish those for the people and against the people of Uganda.

These are members of parliament flocking the desk to append signatures to the motion seeking to censure commissioners for sharing Shs1.7 billion in March 2022 as service award.

Nyendo Mukungwe MP Mpuuga was just 10 months into office as Leader of the Opposition when he sat in a meeting that discussed the so-called service award that has since been deplored as corruption and immoral.

Legislators affiliated to the Patriotic League of Uganda, a loose civic grouping led by First Son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba were among the first to append their signatures and in numbers.

These explained their choice to censure commissioners.

These attracted more others to sign.

Ms Sarah Opendi, one of the faces behind the censure motion, however, has revealed that the embattled commissioners are threatening members against the process with some trading propaganda.

“We know that whoever appends a signature is being called and threatened. Infact there are MPs who are scheming to grab our lists but we can not allow that to happen,'' Tororo Woman MP Opendi said.

While concerned, they vow not to relent to punish their errant colleagues. Other legislators expressed concern that they can not continue going to the field without pay yet huge somes are shared by a few.

“We go for field visits and the commission doesn’t pay us but people are here awarding themselves. Awarding themselves for what good?” Rose Obiga, the Terego Woman MP.

As this continued, the Speaker also checked in on the MPs collecting signatures.

By the close of the day Thursday, more than 90 signatures are believed to have been collected. The censure motion requires at least one-third of Parliament's composition, which is 170 signatures.