Nyendo-Mukungwe legislator Mathias Mpuuga has defended Parliament against accusations made by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, who alleged that the legislature was rewarding leaders before they had even worked.
Responding to Kyagulanyi's remarks, Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition, took to social media to argue that Parliament and the government do not function like event managers who rely on daily collections for expenditures.
"When you believe that Parliament/Government works/budgets like a concert manager where collections are done at the entrance and expenditures made the following day your assertion is right!" Mpuuga stated.
Mpuuga's comments come in the wake of Kyagulanyi's strong criticism of Parliament, where he accused it of engaging in questionable practices, including awarding a service recognition to a Leader of the Opposition before any work had been done.
Kyagulanyi also condemned the alleged misallocation of public resources, citing the iron sheets scandal, in which relief materials meant for vulnerable communities were reportedly diverted by officials.
"This Parliament has had the most outrageous scandals recently," Kyagulanyi said while presenting the Opposition's alternative budget for the 2025-2026 financial year.
He further asserted that corruption in Uganda was deeply entrenched, describing it as a currency used to either reward loyalty or silence those fighting against it.
However, Mpuuga's response suggests that he views Kyagulanyi's assertions as a misunderstanding of how government finances operate.
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While he did not directly refute the corruption claims, his remarks implied that budget allocations and spending are structured and do not function on an ad hoc basis.
Mpuuga was dropped from his position as NUP deputy president for the Buganda region and as Leader of the Opposition following his involvement in the parliamentary commission service award scandal, which saw him receive Shs 500 million as appreciation for his service to Parliament.
Since Bobi Wine removed Mpuuga from the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP) position and appointed Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi in December 2023, tensions have been simmering in NUP over factionalism, finances, and political strategy.
These tensions spilled into the open when a parliamentary exposé revealed that Mpuuga, in his capacity as Parliament Commissioner, had pocketed a Shs 500 million service award for his time as LOP.
Mpuuga, a three-term MP, has faced backlash from NUP for the decision that placed him in cahoots with three NRM parliamentary commissioners, who are all facing censure.
Despite the fallout, Mpuuga has remained defiant in his defense and rebuttals.
Reports that Mpuuga is planning to form his own political party have further fueled the animosity.
For months, NUP and Mpuuga have traded barbs in an internal rift that has tested the young party's unity.
The high-stakes political disputes could have significant implications for the 2026 elections.
