Former Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga has openly criticized his fellow opposition legislators for what he describes as performative activism in their recent decision to reject a UGX 100 million allocation to each Member of Parliament. The funds reportedly included in a supplementary budget, have been a point of contention, with opposition MPs signing a declaration to forgo the money in protest against alleged corruption.
In a video that has since circulated widely, Mpuuga expressed his disapproval of the opposition’s approach, labeling it as “melodrama” and accusing his colleagues of seeking media attention rather than addressing the root causes of corruption.
“I’m very inspired with very, very serious matters of governance in this country,” Mpuuga stated. “When I see individuals who are charged with offering leadership engaged in melodrama for the sake of capturing attention, it’s very unfortunate.”
Mpuuga specifically pointed to the actions of the current Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (PAC-COSASE). He argued that Ssenyonyi, given his position, is well aware of the avenues through which public funds are misappropriated and should focus on substantive oversight rather than symbolic gestures.
“If the opposition in Parliament was interested in fighting corruption, the person who led the signing of signatures chairs a PACA committee and surely knows where public resources are going,” Mpuuga remarked. “When I see them before cameras, trying to steal a moment and divert Ugandans from runaway corruption, it’s duplicity.”
The controversy surrounding the UGX 100 million allocation is part of a broader discourse on parliamentary expenditures. Earlier, Mpuuga himself faced scrutiny over a UGX 500 million “service award” he received during his tenure as LOP, a payment that sparked internal disputes within the National Unity Platform (NUP) and led to calls for his resignation from the Parliamentary Commission. Mpuuga defended the payment as a standard gratuity approved by the Parliamentary Commission, dismissing allegations of corruption.
