By The High Court has mandated disciplinary action against Adolf Mwesige, the Clerk to Parliament, following his involvement in the allocation of Shs1.7 billion as a service reward to the Former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, and three backbench commissioners. This directive was issued in a ruling dated August 12, delivered by Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza.
While Justice Singiza confirmed the legality of the contested service award, citing its approval by Parliament and inclusion in the executive budget, he nonetheless ordered the Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, to discipline Mwesige for his role in the decision-making and implementation processes related to the disputed awards. The judge expressed concern that such allocations, if left unchecked, could lead to the depletion of the nation’s financial resources.
“Reports are rife with allegations of government agencies and politicians awarding themselves monetary prizes. This practice, particularly in agencies where staff are already well-compensated, poses a significant risk to the sustainability of our national coffers,” Justice Singiza stated.
In addition to the disciplinary order, the judge called on the Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa, to urgently propose a Salary and Emoluments Review Board Bill. This bill would aim to harmonize the salaries and allowances of government and political leaders, thereby reducing the likelihood of ad hoc emolument enhancements under the guise of prize money. Justice Singiza emphasized that such matters should be directly overseen by the President.
The controversy dates back to 2022 when, just a year into their tenures, Mpuuga received Shs500 million, while the backbench commissioners—Solomon Silwany (MP Bukooli County Central), Prossy Mbabazi (District Woman MP Rubanda), and Esther Afoyochan (Zombo District Woman MP)—each received Shs400 million as a service reward. The significant sums awarded sparked widespread public and parliamentary outcry, with many questioning the legality and appropriateness of the payments.
The issue came to a head recently when Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo garnered 189 signatures from fellow legislators in an effort to censure the four commissioners involved. However, the latest High Court ruling has dealt a significant blow to Ssekikubo’s censure motion, potentially altering the course of this contentious issue.
