The ongoing move to remove four parliamentary commissioners by a section of legislators has received huge backing from the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
While addressing the press at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Minister Baryomunsi described the decision as relevant to the promotion of accountability, saying the Institution of Parliament should be accountable.
“If you asked my opinion regarding the decision to remove the parliamentary commissioners, I would tell you that it’s a good initiative if some Members of Parliament aren’t certified. We should be accountable as a house; the money we spend comes from tax payers,” Minister Baryomunsi said.
A section of MPs, including the Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Ssekikubi, embarked on the collection of signatures from the members to push for the removal of the four parliamentary commissioners.
The commissioners include the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP)-MP Mathias Mpuuga, Solomon Silwanyi, Esther Afoyochan, and Prossy Akampurira. They are accused of awarding themselves around UGX 1.7 billion as service award without the approval of parliament.
In their petition, the legislators accused the commissioners of involving themselves in misconduct not befitting members of parliament.
The legislators are required to raise at least the total of 175 as required by the Parliamentary Rule of Procedures.
A commissioner can be removed for reasons such as incompetence, inability to perform their duties due to physical or mental infirmity, misbehavior, misconduct,or insanity. These grounds are specified in Section 5 of the Administration of Parliament Act and Rule 110.
