MP Theodore Ssekikubo of Lwemiyaga County has accused MP Godfrey Macho of Busia Municipality (NRM) of attempting to run away with the signatures already collected to censure four commissioners accused of misconduct.

The development was confirmed by Ssekikubo while at parliament on May 30, 2024.

“Hon. Macho was interested in the signatures, and he wanted to run away with the signatures, and when he failed, he hobbled around. I wish to assure members that the signatures are in safe hands. We cannot allow his smuggling instinct to derail the process,” MP Ssekikubo said.

He noted that so far, a total of 103 out of the required 177 signatures have been secured, and he is optimistic that the required number will soon be realized.

MP Macho has, however, trashed the claim of attempting to steal the signatures, saying he is only not willing to support the motion because it lacks evidence.

“I’m waiting for Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo to take me through the facts. I need to see the evidence before signing the censure motion of the parliamentary commissioners,” Macho said.

The process of collecting the signatures has continued to record resistance from several members of parliament, mainly from both the opposition and ruling parties, respectively.

MP Lutamaguzi Ssemakula of Nakaseke South (NUP) has denied allegations of receiving the Shs25 million that is said to have been given to each MP and not appending their signatures to the censure motion for the Parliamentary Commissioners.

He said his hesitancy lay with the mistrust he had towards Theodore Ssekikubo, who is leading the exercise, having earlier betrayed Ugandans in 2017, when he supported the removal of the age limit for the presidency.

MP Wilfred Niwagaba of Ndorwa East (FDC), the Shadow Attorney General, said he declined to sign the censure motion, seeking to oust the four commissioners accused of awarding themselves a Shs1.7 billion service award, until the team leading the process provides him with tangible evidence of the crimes being brought against the accused.

“I look at the rules differently. So when you have evidence, you let me know,”  MP Niwagaba said.

The commissioners, including the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), MP Mathias Mpuuga, Solomon Silwanyi, Esther Afoyochan, and Prossy Akampurira, are accused of awarding themselves around UGX 1.7 billion as service awards without the approval of parliament.

In their petition, the legislators accused the commissioners of involving themselves in misconduct not befitting members of parliament.

The petitioners are required to raise at least a total of 177 signatures, as required by the Parliamentary Rule of Procedures.