A group of Ugandans is intensifying their calls on Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi to resign over allegations of Shs1.7bn bribery. But the youthful first time MP for Nakawa West, not budging, is daring his accusers to substantiate their claims and to stop shifting goal posts.
The most famous of Ssenyonyi’s accusers is a former colleague at NTV Uganda, Dean Lubowa Saava, who used his online channels to allege that while still serving as the chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase), reportedly pocketed Shs1bn as a bribe to keep mum about alleged irregularities at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
Not ready to see his image tarnished, Ssenyonyi has, through his lawyers of Pace Advocates, threatened to sue Saava and a one Geoffrey Lukwago for the allegations the LoP has trashed as false and malicious.
Although Ssenyonyi had demanded that Saava retracts his statements and apologizes within 48 hours from the date he received his notice, he has vowed not to do so, claiming that he has sure he had enough information about Ssenyonyi.
Now, a social media campaign #SsenyonyiMustResign, calling for his resignation, is gaining attention on microblogging site X.
In response, Ssenyonyi has said he was aware that “when you fight corruption, it fights back!” He claimed that his accusers are doing everything possible to ensure that the figure in their allegations is similar to the one that Mathias Mpuuga and other commissioners took as a service award. (See related reporting Here and There).
“Mbu [they are claiming that] ‘Ssenyonyi was bribed with 1bn, sorry it was 1.4bn, no we made a mistake it was actually 1.7bn, and we have audios and evidence to prove that.’ They’re now saying 1.7bn, because they want it to match the other 1.7b ‘service award,” noted Ssenyonyi.
Daring them to release the audios and other formats of proof they claim to have, Ssenyonyi described his accusers as “propagandists.”
“That’s what the thieves in Parliament whom we’re exposing have resorted to through their propagandists. Up to now we’re waiting for the said audios!” he said. “Also, someone needs to advise these fellows to be consistent with the figure they keep talking about. You can’t say 1bn today, tomorrow 1.4bn, then the other day 1.7bn, be organised even as you spew out your propaganda.”
Fearing that there could soon be peaceful protests at Parliament based on the allegations (as there were recently against Theodore Ssekikubo who is pushing for the censure of Mpuuga and other commissioners), Ssenyonyi vowed not to stop exposing thieves at Parliament.
“You will now see more “protesters” paraded and being ushered nicely into Parliament against particular MPs, or other hogwash on social media,” he noted. Nonetheless, we shall continue to speak out against corruption by the thieves in Parliament whom you all know very well!”
This is not the first time Ssenyonyi is facing calls to resign over corruption allegations. In March, resignation after activists accused him of telling lies in relation to per diem money meant for visiting ailing National Unity Platform (NUP) MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in hospital in Kenya Nairobi. Ssenyonyi survived the resignation calls, returning the excess money and defending himself by comparing his case with Mpuuga’s. (See related reporting Here and There).
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