Unidentified people have dropped piglets labeled Joel Ssenyonyi at the headquarters of main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in Makerere-Kavule in the capital Kampala.
Previously, anti-corruption activists have dropped piglets at Parliament of Uganda in protest of gross corruption by Members of Parliament (MPs) accused of taking billions in illegal deals to push through unpopular bills, offer themselves pay raises or posh vehicles worth hundreds of millions of Uganda Shillings.
But now, a group believed to be of anti-corruption crusaders has placed Ssenyonyi, the youthful Nakawa West MP, leader of opposition in parliament and spokesperson for the NUP, at the centre of criticism against parliamentary corruption.
NUP, which is led by popstar-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, has previously emphasized its anti-corruption stance, with the party principal firing Ssenyonyi’s predecessor Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Nyendo Mukungwe MP, from his position as deputy president in charge of vital Buganda region, and unsuccessfully pushing for his sacking from the parliamentary commissioner job.
Ssenyonyi’s accusers allege that he pocketed up to Shs1.7bn from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), a government entity, while he was still serving as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (Cosase).
In the past week, Ssenyonyi has attempted to ward off allegations, labelling them acts of propaganda for his anti-corruption stance. He even alleges the Parliamentary Commission has started sidelining him.
“When I started pressing hard about the corruption at Parliament, I knew there would be ramifications such as baseless propaganda. What’s for sure is that I will not stop confronting this corruption. It is no wonder the Parliamentary Commission quietly holds meetings without informing me, simply because of the shady deals they continue to cut in those meetings,” he said.
“That’s why you hear these fellows shamelessly saying that it’s okay to steal as long as you share with the voters! Their choreographed blackmail only emboldens me to keep taking them on!”
He has also tried to explain to his accusers that he was denied audience to present the report on Uganda Airlines before Parliament, and that he has had to defy the speaker’s orders to block journalists from covering the inquiry into Uganda Airlines.
“During COSASE investigations into Uganda Airlines, Speaker Anita Among wrote to me this letter “guiding” that I should have closed door proceedings and keep journalists out of the committee room. I disagreed with her “guidance” because I didn’t see any reason to shield Uganda Airlines from public scrutiny. We had been investigating all other entities publicly with the media present, so I didn’t see why the corruption in Uganda Airlines shouldn’t be exposed publicly,” wrote Ssenyonyi.
“Meanwhile, the Speaker held a meeting with the CEO of Uganda Airlines during our investigation, something which I didn’t think was appropriate. All of these machinations were proof that the Speaker wanted to cover up the corruption in our Airlines, no wonder she frustrated the report.”
But those demanding Ssenyonyi’s resignation have pointed out that the alleged Shs1.7bn in question was from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and not Uganda Airlines. They have also alleged that he has established properties in a short period of time, tasking him to explain the source of his wealth – which is another way of demanding for a lifestyle audit.
The calls for Ssenyonyi’s resignation come amidst a looming legal battle between the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and his former NTV Uganda colleague, Dean Lubowa Saava, over allegations that he pocketed money from UCAA. Terming the allegations published on Saava’s channels as malicious, Ssenyonyi has threatened to sue his former colleague.
On July 22, in reaction to the throwing of pigs labelled with his name at the NUP head office, Joel Ssenyonyi dared those who claim that he pocketed money to cover up a report or become lenient to wrong doers in any government, to present evidence and he responds to it. This was after his accusers claimed to have audio evidence to pin him.
Ssenyonyi further dismissed the allegations against him as propaganda engineered and spread by those who are afraid of the way he has been exposing him. He suspects that the corrupt are fighting back. He vowed not to give up the fight.
“They have done many things but we are still here and growing stronger. We will do more in coming years,” he said, adding that the corrupt baying for his blood were afraid to arrest him and had instead chosen to tarnish his name.
Former RCC Anderson Burora was remanded for allegedly using his X account to call Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among ‘corrupt,’ ‘murderer,’ ‘torturer’ and ‘kidnapper.’ (See Details Here).
Ssenyonyi’s troubles have been piling up, with the first significant calls for him to resign coming up in March 2024 after activists accused him of telling lies in relation to per diem money meant for visiting sick National Unity Platform (NUP) MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in hospital in Kenya Nairobi. Ssenyonyi returned the excess money and defended himself by comparing his case with Mpuuga’s. (See related reporting Here and There).
