MP Basalirwa to Sue Legislators Behind Commissioners’ Censorship

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MP Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality

Legislators behind the censure motion of four Parliamentary Commissioners are battling a setback from a section of members who have continued to oppose the move.

On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, MP Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality opposed the motion, describing it as an illegal proposal.

MP Asuman threatened to sue MP Theodore Ssekikubo of Lwemiyaga County, the lead petitioner, and other members who have signed the motion intending to censure the four commissioners.

He claimed to have received instructions from MP Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central) and MP Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo-Mukungwe), who are both part of the four commissioners being accused of illegally rewarding themselves with Shs1.7 billion.

MP Basalirwa threatened to ask for hefty damages in court that will be paid by MP Ssekikubo for orchestrating such an illegality, arguing that the censure motion is in contempt of court because there is already an active case in court where Parliament was sued for the service award.

MP Mpuuga had earlier argued that the motion was illegal and that it was being mooted selfishly by those he termed enemies.

MP Veronica Nanyondo, the Bukomansimbi District Woman Representative, had previously written to withdraw her signature, claiming she erroneously appended it.

She alleged that she was hoodwinked into signing the censure motion under the pretext of signing an attendance list for another opposition meeting.

According to Nanyondo, the move is not intended to derail the exercise of the censure motion aimed at recalling the four commissioners over the Shs1.7 billion service award.

Early this week, MP Ssekikubo confirmed that they had so far collected 123 out of the 177 required signatures.