By Ezrah Kashumbusha.
KAMPALA, March 27, 2024 | The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has dismissed a request from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to recall Mathias Mpuuga from his position as Commissioner of Parliament.
The decision came in response to a letter dated March 18, 2024, from the Secretary General of NUP, David Rubongoya, requesting Mpuuga’s removal and replacement with Francis Zaake.
Speaker Among cited sections of the rules of parliamentary procedures, emphasizing that the role of parties is limited to nominating candidates, while parliamentary commissioners are elected by Parliament itself. According to Section 5, a commissioner can only be removed from office by Parliament under specific conditions.
Furthermore, Among pointed out that the process for the removal of a commissioner requires a motion initiated by a notice in writing, supported by not less than one-third of all voting members of Parliament, totaling 177 members.
In response, Rubongoya defended NUP’s decision, stating that Mpuuga’s nomination was revoked in favor of Zaake. Rubongoya emphasized that if Mpuuga were to remain in his position, he would do so without the mandate of the party and the opposition platform.
It remains to be seen whether, whether the issue will be raised on the floor of Parliament for members to vote on. NUP, on its part, remains resolute in its determination to remove Mpuuga from his position as a commissioner in Parliament.
