Opposition MPs involved in embezzling Shs164Bn should face the law, says LOP Mpuuga

The Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga has said that the opposition MPs implicated in the embezzlement of the Shs164Bn Cooperatives money should be sorted out by the law.

Mpuuga made the remarks at a media engagement held to update the public on the performance of the opposition, where he argued that he has no sympathies towards opposition MPs implicated in this embezzlement, saying the actions these MPs did were done for their personal gains.

“If a member was mentioned in this report of cooperatives corruption, they should face the law; there is only one law in this land. And whoever is mentioned in the report they should face the law, if they had no obligation or question to answer, the law will sort it. Do you want me to write another report?” remarked Mathias Mpuuga.

The leader of opposition further added that he doesn’t have anything to sympathise with and these people should be able to face the law, whereas those who have questions must also face them.

“Corruption is person to holder, it isn’t institutional that somebody is doing it for the benefit of their community, so that and other reports of Parliament where individuals have been indicted, they should be able to face the law,” he added

Mpuuga also blamed the recent public uproar following the handover of posh cars to former Speakers on confusion in the law, and urged the Attorney General, Kiryoowa Kiwanuka to issue legal interpretation, clarifying on whether individuals perceived to have retired from their former offices, but are drawing salaries from their current public offices like Rebecca kadaga and Edward Ssekandi, are entitled to get these retirement packages.

He wondered at what stage one must take the benefit of these perks, saying it is a question of interpreting the law, whether one can take a benefit when they still have the lien on the public purse.

“That is the question that the legal minds must break down. For instance, my friend Rebecca Kadaga, a former Speaker but still a Minister still has access to the public purse, and therefore she isn’t entirely retired. So is Ssekandi who is a former Vice President and former Speaker. The question is if he is finally retired, what perks does he take? that of the former Speaker or former Vice president? And he is still a Presidential Advisor and therefore, he still has access to the public purse,” said Mathias Mpuuga.

Regarding the position of leader of opposition in parliament, Mathias Mpuuga guaranteed that he is prepared to surrender power if his party (NUP) chooses to drop him.