The National Unity Platform (NUP) party has designated Francis Zaake, the Member of Parliament for Mityana Municipality, as the new parliamentary commissioner, replacing Mathias Mpuuga.
This decision comes after the NUP National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to recall Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition, from his position as parliamentary commissioner due to alleged abuse of office.
In a statement issued by the party’s Acting National President, Dr. Lina Zadriga Waru, NUP accuses Mpuuga of involvement in the Shs1.7 billion “service award” scandal, purportedly agreed upon in a meeting chaired by Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
“Despite Mpuuga’s response to the NEC’s request to explain why he should not be recalled from the Parliamentary Commission, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, which contradicted the party’s mission, values, and objectives. Specifically, he did not address the specific accusations against him,” the statement reads.
“Zaake’s nomination stems from his unjust removal from the role in March 2022, allowing for the questionable dealings of the Parliamentary Commission to surface,” the statement continues.
Meanwhile, Mpuuga has affirmed that he will not resign from his current position as parliamentary commissioner.
Last year, the Constitutional Court nullified the parliamentary resolution to dismiss Zaake from his role as a commissioner.