Nyendo-Mukungwe Member of Parliament Mathias Mpuuga has dismissed the possibility of forming a new political party, reiterating his allegiance to the National Unity Platform (NUP) led by former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, who recently suspended him as the party’s deputy for the Buganda region.
Speaking at his thanksgiving ceremony at Kitovu Sports Arena in Masaka City on Friday, Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, declared his dedication to educating Ugandan youth in clean politics and mobilizing efforts for electoral reforms aimed at achieving a peaceful political transition in Uganda.
“Many people have been asking what Mpuuga plans to announce today; is it a new party, becoming NUP President, or President of Uganda? Let me answer them; I am capable of doing those three things, but my focus is going to be on nurturing the youth to become good leaders,” he stated.
Mpuuga emphasized the importance of carefully selecting his political allies, reflecting on the lessons he has learned from his political experiences. “What I have gone through has taught me many lessons and starting today, I will first observe what other people do, not what they say, before deciding to work with them,” he said.
The event was attended by notable figures including former presidential aspirant Joseph Kiiza Kabuleta and Conservative Party (CP) leader John Ken Lukyamuzi. Mpuuga, accompanied by his wife Maria Nabbanja, vowed to protect his reputation against those who malign him, asserting, “This time round no one is going to malign me and just walk away. I will defend my name at all costs, but I remain calm as usual.”
He urged fellow politicians to focus on critical issues affecting Ugandans, such as resource distribution, the size of Parliament, and service delivery, advocating for collaboration even with perceived adversaries for the betterment of the country.
Mpuuga, currently a commissioner of Parliament, is embroiled in a dispute with NUP leadership over corruption allegations. The controversy stems from a service award of Shs1.7 billion, which he and three other commissioners from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) awarded themselves in 2023. Mpuuga received Shs500 million, while commissioners Prossy Mbabazi Akampurira, Esther Afoyochan, and Solomon Silwanyi received Shs400 million each. Akampurira, Afoyochan, and Silwanyi were among the guests at the ceremony.
Kyagulanyi has called for Mpuuga to resign as commissioner and apologize to Ugandans for alleged corruption and betrayal. Mpuuga has rejected these demands, maintaining that the award was deserved and not criminal.
Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro, Mr. Charles Peter Mayiga, who was expected as the chief guest, sent emissaries. His second deputy, Mr. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, delivered Mayiga’s message, praising Mpuuga’s leadership. “His leadership has been fruitful since he started his journey with Buganda Kingdom to date. In other political offices, Mpuuga has occupied since he left Mengo in 2011, he has displayed good leadership. We urge him to keep up to those standards as he furthers his political journey,” Nsibirwa conveyed.
