Budadiri West MP, Nandala Mafabi, has called for the arrest of all MPs on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for their role in approving a controversial Shs1.7 billion service award to four commissioners. Mafabi’s bold move comes as President Museveni vows to crush corruption in the government.
After signing a censure motion, Mafabi expressed his outrage and disappointment, saying, “I am among the longest-serving MPs here; in the last 23 years I have been here, we have never paid a Commissioner anything… What did these people do that was so special that we gave them a handshake? What have these women and men commissioners done?”
Mafabi argued that the commissioners did not deserve the reward, as they had not done anything exceptional during their tenure. He also questioned the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee’s decision to approve the service award without highlighting any exceptional work done by the commissioners. “If they really said they were awarded for service and they served us, we are the ones who should have credited them that they served us. Tell me, What did they do for all of you to see that they have done it?”
The MP also pointed out that the Committee had failed to highlight the issue of the service award during debates on ministerial policy statements, saying, “If the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee had an exceptional issue, it should have highlighted to us as MPs that there is an exception because these Commissioners have done so wonderful that we need to reward them. Since they never did it and for us we never saw, even the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee should be held liable as they are holding the MPs of the Budget Committee.”
Mafabi’s call for accountability comes as President Museveni has vowed to crush corruption in the government, stating, “I now have proof of a corruption racket from the Ministry of Finance to Parliament. We are going to crush them. I will not grant them amnesty. With the crushing of corruption, Uganda is unstoppable. Corrupt government officials are no different from foreigners who wish Uganda evil. I can tolerate naive mistake-makers but not deliberate dishonesty at parliament, where money is allocated to ministries in return for a cut (kickbacks).”
The president’s remarks were made during the State of the Nation Address, where he emphasized his commitment to fighting corruption. “We are going to crush them,” he reiterated. “I will not grant them amnesty. With the crushing of corruption, Uganda is unstoppable.”
Mafabi’s bold stance and the president’s vow to crush corruption have sparked a heated debate on corruption and accountability in Uganda’s Parliament. As the country moves forward, it remains to be seen whether Mafabi’s efforts will lead to real change and a crackdown on corruption. Will the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee be held liable for their role in the controversial service award? Only time will tell.
