
The Parliament Exhibition has hurt the former Leader of Opposition and National Unity Platform (NUP) Member of Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga. The “Service Award” is hurting him and his case. That’s why the NUP Party has decided that he should vacate the role of Commissioner of Parliament and give it to Francis Zaake MP. However, since then it is has radio-silence.
Since the first interview and defence of the 500 million the MP and former LoP has been silent. He has not spoken and other has come into his defence. What has been striking is that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has defended him and the reasons for him to get the additional perks. Therefore, something is odd…
Mpuuga have been defended by Bwanika (NUP) and Ssegona (NUP). There been other voices who has come to his aide. We can just wonder if they will join him elsewhere too. They all partook and got part of the red wave ahead of the 2021 elections.
The NUP Party has their integrity intact by sanctioning Mpuuga. Some might say it is for publicity since they haven’t demoted him internally, but wants him to resign as the Commissioner in Parliament. That role or title costs more for him than being the Deputy President in the Central (Buganda) Region.
Some is speculating that him falling out with the NUP and going somewhere else would hurt the NUP in the 2026 elections. That is further talk that isn’t proven. As he would have stand against a new competition and against someone who has a cleaner slate. This will be a hard sale, as he has proven his will to enrich himself on behalf of others.
The ones calling him Owek and honourable is mighty precious right now. The deafening silence is saying one out of two things. The first is that his trying to whether the storm. He hopes the winds dies down and people forget about the “eating”. The second one is that his trying to find the next step and how to move. Because, he knows his stature and place in the NUP is shattered.
Mpuuga don’t have the same support as before. Yes, there are “yes-men” and people loyal to him. Saying his an intellectual and a wise-man, but a wise-man wouldn’t have caught eating other people’s cookies. That’s what Mpuuga did and the deed has destroyed his legacy. The character of Mpuuga has changed and his just another greedy, corrupt politician. He became like the ones he fought in Activists For Change (A4C). Mpuuga became like the ones he fought and it is tragic to see that in 2024. Decades from the activism and being active in politics, Mpuuga changed and not for the better.
Now he has to decide to sanctioned and loose face. If he fights the NUP Party and stays as Commissioner. He is defying the party that he is a part of and representing. Then his arrogantly not abiding by the principals that he got elected on. Mpuuga will then be a pawn for others and a lackey for the government. That’s because he accepted to take a bribe and defy the opposition party his a part of. That’s not a wise move and brilliant it is not.
Mpuuga can stay behind, but he will not get the “love” or “support” like he did before. That’s because of the supporters NUP has. He cannot be there and represent them when his acting opposite of what the party wants to achieve.
This is why Mpuuga has to choose another path. He either has to start his own party with fellow allies. Become a Masaka based party and try to gain relevance ahead of the 2026 elections. That would be the third party Mpuuga is on the ticket for. The same could be said if he joins the NRM or any other party in existence. You can just wonder if he wants to leave or risk to leave, because the red wave and popularity of the NUP hasn’t ceased since the 2021 election. It would be risky to leave and not having a talisman to cling on too.
Mpuuga is told to be smart, but he could end up walking alone. If he does create his own briefcase party. He would become like Kabuleta and other in the wilderness. There is nothing natural or obvious that he would return on the ticket on his party. That we have seen with Basalirwa who also needed Bobi Wine to get back to Parliament. Therefore, Mpuuga could sacrifice his whole career over 500m shillings.
Just imagine one “service award” was the total destruction of your name and legacy. You took money that wasn’t really yours, while you have lectured about this greed for years. Demonstrated and been on the barricades against people who does this. However, when you got to office, you did exactly the same as the practice you were speaking against. That’s who Mpuuga has become.
A new party either created or joining won’t save Mpuuga. Neither will his intellect. Because his actions are speaking louder than words. Now we just have to see what he decides to do. The defiance isn’t endearing. The silence isn’t strengthening his case either. It just further speculations into what he will do next.
Sooner or later, he will reveal the next step. We can just wonder if he jumps ships or wants to hold on to the NUP. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ducked responsibility and created own party. That’s because it saves his ego and he doesn’t have to held to account on his own. However, then people see how weaselly he moved.
The man can build up a reputation over years, but the same reputation can be destroyed in a heartbeat. That what happened to Mpuuga. Peace.












