The High Court in Kampala has ruled that the service award of UGX 500 million to former Leader of Opposition Matthias Mpuuga and three other Commissioners was lawful. However, the court also found that the Clerk to Parliament was negligent in processing the payment, as it was not authorized by law.
The court decision, delivered by Judge Dr. Douglas Singiza on August 12, 2024, stated that the award was approved by Parliament and formed part of the budget presented by the Executive. However, the judge noted that the Clerk to Parliament failed to detect mistakes in the budget, as the service award is unknown in the payment system of Parliament.
The court ordered the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury to institute disciplinary proceedings against the Clerk to Parliament within 12 months. The decision arises from a petition filed by a concerned citizen, Daniel Bwette, who argued that the payment was illegal and an abuse of power.
The court found that the payment was mixed up with Ex-Gratia Payment for Political Leaders and lacked justification. Judge Singiza expressed concern that government agencies and politicians are awarding themselves prizes in the form of money, which could deplete the nation’s coffers if left unchecked. He proposed a Salary and Emoluments Review Board Bill to review and harmonize Emoluments and allowances of government and political leaders.
The decision comes as MPs opposed to the Service award had collected signatures to censure the Commissioners. The next steps are unclear given the court’s ruling.
