Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), had prior knowledge of the Shs 500 million payment given to the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, before it became public last week.

According to information from various sources familiar with the matter, Kyagulanyi was made aware of the payment after the exposure of the Shs 40 million paid to MPs in 2022.

Minutes from the Parliamentary Commission meeting in May 2022, which were leaked, they disclosed that a decision was made to grant Mpuuga, the Leader of the Opposition, a one-time service award of Shs 500 million, with Shs 400 million set aside for each of the three Commissioners from the National Resistance Movement.

Kyagulanyi has publicly stated since last week that he became aware of this payment through the social media anti-corruption campaign, which has previously targeted various government departments and civil society organizations but has now shifted its focus to parliament.

“I returned to the country with disturbing news that emerged from the parliamentary exhibition, exposing the rot, gross corruption, and mismanagement at the parliament of Uganda,” said Kyagulanyi during a press conference at party headquarters.

“Per that exhibition, we discovered that our deputy president and parliamentary commissioner, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, was involved in the meeting that allocated him Shs 500 million as a service award. That’s why I called a meeting of leaders, where he admitted to receiving that money, acknowledged that it was wrong, and apologized to the leadership team,” he continued, reiterating the claim on multiple occasions thereafter.

However, according to impeccable sources who have spoken to The Observer and have been granted anonymity to speak freely for fear of retribution, Kyagulanyi was informed about the payment and chose not to act. “He said there was no evidence for him to act,” one source revealed.

What the source didn’t disclose was whether Kyagulanyi had discussed the matter with Mpuuga after learning about it. When Mpuuga was dropped in December 2023 and appointed as a parliamentary commissioner to replace Francis Zaake, who had been impeached in 2022 for allegedly using uncouth language against the speaker of parliament, Annet Anita Among, those close to Kyagulanyi argued that the party had been short-changed by Zaake’s inability to sit on the commission, thus necessitating someone who would be accepted by Among.

“Even if we had reappointed him, they would have refused to confirm him in the position, yet we needed that representation,” one senior party leader told this newspaper at the time.

Zaake was appointed as the deputy chief whip and shadow minister for the presidency and security. However, Among refused to allow the appointment as deputy chief whip, citing that it was not in accordance with the law. Another party official, who was also granted anonymity, questioned why the party appointed Mpuuga despite knowing that he had been given hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money, which Kyagulanyi now characterizes as corruption.

“Let Bobi Wine stop acting like he didn’t know. We told him it was wrong to appoint Mpuuga again because he wasn’t clean, but he refused to listen because the politics then didn’t allow him to act,” the official said.

Mpuuga had mobilized several MPs to decline the appointments in the shadow cabinet. They aimed to undermine Kyagulanyi’s efforts to establish new parliamentary leadership. However, when Kyagulanyi appointed most of those who had been mobilized to the positions they desired, they abandoned the boycott.

Nevertheless, since those changes in the leadership of the opposition in parliament, Mpuuga’s silent war with Kyagulanyi has become more public. When the parliamentary exhibition exposed the Shs 500 million payout, it presented a significant opportunity for Kyagulanyi to finally confront Mpuuga politically and potentially weaken his position.

“Of course, it is very hard to defend Mpuuga on this money, but what Kyagulanyi is doing has nothing to do with corruption; he is simply exploiting a situation to his benefit,” a source said.

There is also another allegation that the current leader of the opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, acting on behalf of Kyagulanyi, is the one who leaked the minutes of the Parliamentary Commission to the exhibitors to also remove Mpuuga, whose influence looms large in parliament.

Ssenyonyi has yet to gain the acceptance of many MPs apart from those he serves within the shadow cabinet. Unlike Mpuuga, who, according to one MP, was financially very generous with MPs, Ssenyonyi is yet to acquire those resources, if ever, to spend on MPs. Therefore, many are still very sympathetic to Mpuuga.

In fact, in their WhatsApp group, apart from a few, like Paulson Luttamaguzi and Aloysius Mukasa, who vehemently support Kyagulanyi, many opposition MPs are quiet about the unfolding fallout.

“We have been avoiding a fight against Kyagulanyi because we thought he would affect us politically, but now he has called for it. The good thing is we still have time before the next election. We are going to expose this guy, and by the time we are done with him, many people will realize what hot air he is,” an MP also granted anonymity said.

Ssenyonyi couldn’t be reached to comment on this story before press time, as his known telephone number was switched off.

MPUUGA-KYAGULANYI FIGHT

During the two and a half years Mpuuga spent as Leader of the Opposition (LoP), he had a tense relationship with Kyagulanyi. Individuals close to Kyagulanyi have informed us that Mpuuga used the position to his own advantage at the expense of the party. There is a strong belief among Kyagulanyi supporters that Mpuuga harbors presidential ambitions.

“Before Bobi appointed him LoP, he had been in parliament for 10 years but had never even served as a deputy chairperson of a committee. He was appointed LoP, but what did he do with it? He undermined the same man who appointed him. Even if it were you, you wouldn’t accept that,” another source stated.

In a document purportedly written by Kyagulanyi himself, although not signed, the party requested Mpuuga to step down as the parliamentary commissioner due to his involvement in what they termed as corruption. This came after a tense meeting held last week at the party headquarters, during which Mpuuga allegedly admitted to accepting the money.

Present at the meeting were Kyagulanyi, his four deputies, Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, LoP and party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, as well as MPs Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and Betty Nambooze. According to a source present, Mpuuga was urged to issue an immediate statement stepping down as commissioner of parliament while still at the party headquarters.

Allegedly, he agreed to step down but requested time to discuss the matter with his family. However, after nearly 24 hours had passed without his announcement of resignation, Kyagulanyi issued a now-famous statement describing the Shs 500 million payout as corruption. This emboldened Mpuuga to openly defy Kyagulanyi’s directive to step down. What Kyagulanyi intended to increase pressure on Mpuuga actually strengthened his resolve to resist.

Close associates informed this newspaper that when Mpuuga sought their advice on the next steps, they advised him that accepting to step down would be detrimental.

“It’s difficult to defend the money he took, especially considering the current economic situation that most of the country finds itself in, but
by agreeing to resign, he would essentially admit to being corrupt. We advised him that this is not just a legal issue but a moral one, and it should be approached as such,” one MP informed us.

During an appearance on CBS radio’s Parliament Yaffe program on Saturday, Mpuuga acknowledged that he participated in a meeting where the money was discussed but denied receiving it himself. He stated that if Kyagulanyi truly believed he was corrupt, he should be calling for his prosecution rather than simply asking him to step aside as commissioner. Mpuuga argued that by not advocating for his prosecution, Kyagulanyi was effectively complicit in the crime of corruption.

TENSE RELATIONSHIP

Kyagulanyi intended to dismiss Mpuuga before the end of the two-and-a-half-year term that previous LoPs had been allotted. Two such instances occurred when Mpuuga convened the entire opposition leadership at Speke Resort Munyonyo to discuss the country’s direction regarding President Museveni’s leadership and electoral law reforms.

During the meeting, there were discussions about creating a level playing field for all political players. A source revealed that Kyagulanyi had instructed Mpuuga not to invite certain opposition leaders but was surprised to find them present at Munyonyo. He was further irked by the standing ovation given to Dr Kizza Besigye, another key speaker, while Kyagulanyi received none.

Following the meeting, Kyagulanyi expressed frustration, dismissing electoral reforms as futile since they wouldn’t result in Museveni relinquishing power through elections. He criticized the expenditure of taxpayer funds on such gatherings, believing they wouldn’t lead to meaningful change in the country.

Privately, Kyagulanyi reportedly vented his displeasure at his treatment during the meeting, stating his intention to remove Mpuuga as LoP in the coming days. Another source revealed that he had tapped Muwanga Kivumbi, the MP for Butambala county, to replace Mpuuga, who believed he was in contention for the LoP position until the last minute.

Kyagulanyi also left the burial of the father of Manjiya MP and Opposition Chief Whip John Baptist Nambeshe, expressing his intention to confront Mpuuga upon returning to Kampala. He was displeased with the perceived lack of respect shown to him at the burial, citing seating arrangements and the role of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa as chief mourner.

Mpuuga’s tenure as LoP was marked by such tumultuous incidents. Efforts to reach NUP spokespeople for comment on this story were unsuccessful, as Ssenyonyi’s number was unreachable by press time and Waiswa Mufumbiro, his deputy, did not answer the call.

MPUUGA, KYAGULANYI OLD RIVALRY

Two weeks ago, this newspaper reported on the power struggle within NUP between Mpuuga and Kyagulanyi, which had been ongoing before the issue of the Shs 500 million came to light. Mpuuga, NUP’s deputy president for Buganda, had been making headlines as the divide between him and some of the party’s most influential leaders widened.

Around two weeks ago, Mpuuga, backed by some leaders in Greater Masaka, objected to the mobilization campaign dubbed Kkunga, led by the powerful secretary for Mobilization, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, who is also Kyagulanyi’s brother, in their region. Mpuuga, also serving as the deputy party president for Buganda, repeatedly expressed concerns about Kkunga’s objectives, questioning why it was targeting NUP members again.

“We all need to have one goal. For you to claim to be the best at mobilization and then go to an area and say, ‘I’m bringing you new leaders,’ what is that? How can you say you’re mobilizing people yet you only invite NUP supporters? Isn’t that confusion? That’s why we insisted that Kkunga should stop until we have guidance on the way forward,” Mpuuga stated during a meeting with NUP leaders from across his Nyendo-Mukungwe constituency.

However, these battle lines are not new; in fact, they were among the reasons behind Mpuuga’s removal as LoP. Several individuals close to Kyagulanyi, who spoke to us for this article, revealed that while serving as LoP, Mpuuga never facilitated any mobilization efforts for the party in Greater Masaka.

They claimed that he never organized any events and invited Kyagulanyi as the guest of honor. One of the individuals involved in Kkunga, who, like many others we interviewed, requested anonymity to speak candidly, stated that when Nyanzi and his allies visited an area, the local leaders, led by the member of parliament, were expected to mobilize resources to support the mobilization efforts.

However, Mpuuga, who had substantial resources as LoP, refused to participate in such arrangements in his area. Furthermore, he reportedly influenced other leaders in Masaka to reject the mobilization efforts as well.

“They basically want to diminish the influence of the headquarters in their area. I believe he wants to establish a local base from which to pursue his political ambitions,” remarked one NUP leader.

These political aspirations, which reportedly target 2031, also played a significant role in the decision to remove Mpuuga as LoP. A close associate of Kyagulanyi stated that he [Kyagulanyi] was concerned about Mpuuga’s nationwide tours under the pretext of monitoring government programs for accountability.

Mpuuga was the first LoP in opposition history to conduct nationwide tours to oversee government programs. During these tours, Mpuuga held public rallies that attracted sizable crowds in many locations. Furthermore, the party headquarters was not involved at all, nor did they receive any updates from him.

According to our source, Kyagulanyi interpreted this behavior not only as insubordination but also as an attempt by Mpuuga to build a political coalition to advance his undisclosed presidential ambitions.

EFFORTS FALL SHORT

When it became apparent that Mpuuga was facing removal, he mobilized all possible resources to prevent his dismissal, but his efforts fell short. Perhaps Mpuuga realized that he could use his position as parliamentary commissioner not only to advance his political interests but also to undermine the new LoP, Joel Ssenyonyi.

In fact, individuals we have spoken to in parliament, including members of the Ssenyonyi leadership team, sense that Mpuuga is already working against them.

“Joel hasn’t been able to hire anybody to work for him; all the people Mpuuga brought were confirmed as permanent employees of parliament. Of course, this occurred before Ssenyonyi was appointed, but frankly, no one can deny that there were political considerations because it had long been known that Mpuuga wouldn’t be reappointed,” stated an MP we spoke to.

Another MP mentioned that Mpuuga’s faction has successfully created the impression that Ssenyonyi was appointed to oppose Anita Among, the powerful speaker of parliament.

“Of course, she is also prepared for the confrontation with them, and all of this plays right into Mpuuga’s hands,” the MP remarked.

Mpuuga, who is serving his third term as an MP, reportedly urged his associates to regroup and strategize afresh because, as he put it, the opposition currently lacks leadership.

“He emphasized the need to reorganize our forces because at present, we have no leadership, not only in NUP but in the opposition as a whole. As the NRM prepares to endorse Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, NUP, the largest opposition party, is preoccupied with the petty disputes of its top leaders,” the source revealed.

MASAKA PROVIDES PLATFORM.

The removal of Mpuuga as LoP also emboldened his critics in Masaka, who believed he was now more vulnerable to defeat. Mpuuga had been engaged in a public feud with the Masaka City leadership, led by Florence Namayanja, over allegations of mishandling the city’s properties.

Namayanja and her allies then joined forces with Nyanzi, who, perhaps acting on his brother’s instructions, had grievances against Mpuuga. The Nyanzis had long sought to establish a presence in Masaka, but Mpuuga had always been a barrier to their efforts. Now, with local allies, the battle for control over Masaka gained momentum.

Nyanzi publicly stated that his Kkunga campaigns were nationwide, and thus Masaka could not be an exception. Indeed, one of his associates expressed concern over the lack of foot soldiers, NUP mobilizers, in the area. Unlike some areas where the transition from DP to NUP resulted in the dissolution of DP structures, Masaka retained its DP structures, which were seamlessly transferred to NUP, still firmly under Mpuuga’s control.

Additionally, Mpuuga boasts strong support from the Catholic Church and Buganda kingdom, two influential institutions in the Masaka sub-region. With such backing, Mpuuga can afford to dismiss Nyanzi, who many believe is merely a pawn for Kyagulanyi. Mpuuga boldly stated that Masaka is already liberated and, therefore, does not require further mobilization efforts, which should instead be directed to areas where the NUP message has not yet taken root.

During a recent meeting with local leaders from his constituency, Mpuuga emphasized the importance of preserving Masaka’s status as a stronghold.

“People are frustrated with those who waste their time; those who understand that Masaka is our stronghold… We have cultivated political interest in Masaka, and this is what we aim to spread to other areas with weaknesses. To achieve this, we must minimize conflicts and selfishness. Our politics is not about personal gain; we are engaged in serious politics… As a leader, I refuse to condone violence among our supporters… I am confident in my actions because I know they are the right ones to take,” Mpuuga declared.

Mpuuga has also garnered significant support from Kimanya-Kabonera MP Dr Abed Bwanika. Unlike many MPs aligned with NUP, Bwanika is unafraid to challenge Kyagulanyi and other senior party figures. Bwanika has openly defended Mpuuga, pledging to oppose anyone who interferes with their objectives. He emphasized that they have invested considerable time in building Mpuuga’s political career and cannot allow it to be undermined by individuals who contribute little.

Some information was provided by: mmkakembo@gmail.com and aysharmwesigye@gmail.com Via The Observer