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Adolf Mwesige, the Clerk to Parliament, has come forward to justify the service award of Sh500 million granted to Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP). He emphasized the legality and appropriateness of the payment during a discussion with New Vision online on Monday, March 4, 2024.
Mwesige characterized the payment as ‘akasiimo,’ a token of appreciation, and clarified that although there might be gaps in the law regarding such awards, the Parliamentary Commission possesses authority under the Administration of Parliament Act to determine benefits and allowances for various parliamentary positions, including the LOP.
Responding to inquiries about why Mpuuga’s predecessors had not received similar service awards, Mwesige drew a parallel with past changes in parliamentary benefits, illustrating that such decisions evolve over time. He referenced instances where pensions were extended to former speakers and MPs, highlighting the Commission’s discretion in making such determinations.
Highlighting Mpuuga’s stance, the Nyendo-Mukungwe MP affirmed his expectation of the service award, emphasizing his compliance with legal processes and his absence of corruption. However, the delay in receiving the award has sparked internal controversy within his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP).
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The decision to award Mpuuga the service payment was made by the Parliamentary Commission in May 2022, alongside similar recognitions for other parliamentary roles. However, criticism from NUP’s President, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, challenges the legality and ethics of the payment.
Kyagulanyi denounced the service award as illegal and questioned the justification for singling out Mpuuga for such recognition. He criticized the notion of self-awarding and raised concerns about the use of taxpayers’ money for personal recognition within public service.
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