Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Betty Aol Ochan, the former Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, has advised Mathias Mpuuga to resign from his current role as a Parliamentary Commissioner.
The call comes in the wake of the National Unity Platform (NUP) urging Mpuuga to step down, citing allegations of corruption and abuse of office related to a Shs 500 million “gratuity” he received.
Joel Ssenyonyi, Mpuuga’s successor, revealed that a party crisis meeting, presided over by party president Robert Kyagulanyi, found Mpuuga guilty of corruption.
The meeting concluded with the recommendation that Mpuuga resign from his position. Ssenyonyi also disclosed that Mpuuga acknowledged his involvement in the alleged misconduct during the meeting and offered an apology.
In response, Mpuuga dismissed an “unsigned document” advocating for his resignation, denouncing it as based on “falsehoods and terrible misapprehension of facts, including basic ones.”
Also Read: Defiant Mpuuga refuses to resign, gears up for ‘ideological battle’ with NUP
In a statement issued on Friday 1, March 2024, Mpuuga clarified that the Shs 500 million was granted to him by the Parliamentary Commission as gratuity, refuting any criminal wrongdoing.
Despite Mpuuga’s defense, Betty Aol Ochan insists that he should voluntarily step down. She also calls for the removal of other commissioners she deems as ‘dirty.’
“If I were him, I would step aside if it’s true because it is public knowledge. Probably he has a reason, which he should come out and clarify,” Ochan said.
