The Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga, has called Members leaving other parties and joining others mentally unstable, money hungry, and in need of significant counselling. Mpuuga, while addressing journalists on July 13, 2023, at Parliament, advised that such MPs should seek professional help since they are sick.
“They are like schoolboys pursuing and running after rice to fill their stomachs; their choices are their own. As adults, how can they keep rushing from party to party only to feed their stomachs?” Mpuuga questioned.
Mpuuga further warned other members of the party not to quit and join the MK movement, saying that anyone who does so will face it rough.
“We have given them enough guidance; whoever leaves is doing so selfishly, like the two confused lunch seeker MPs,” he said.
However, according to Paulson Kasana Semakula Luttamaguzi, MP for Nakaseke South, Mpuuga is running a project to buy off strategic opposition members across all regions of the country.
“The country tours Mpuuga is holding provide a good platform for him to run his strategic projects of winning and buying off opposition in the other regions of the country,” Luttamaguzi said.
According to Twaha Kagabo, MP for Bukoto South, Mpuuga has double standards and is very selfish in his dealings, as he was recently in Jinja wooing Paul Mwiru with a lot of money to join his camp in preparation for his presidential bid come 2026.
“Imagine Mpuuga referring to us as sick people in need of counselling, yet he spent 15 million shillings on Mwiru and promised him more if he convinces more people in the Busoga region to support his political career. These are some of the reasons I left NUP; they attack others for doing exactly what they are doing.”
“Mwiru was wooed by Mpuuga to Strengthen his camp, not NUP,” Kagabo added.
Kagabo stated that Mpuuga is launching his political career with country tours ahead of his presidential ambitions. According to Kagabo, he is using the tours as a fishing activity to lure and buy members for his camp.
“We rejected his plans and chose MK, which is why he is so bitter. Mpuuga too did not start at NUP; he left DP to join NUP, so can one say he is working for his stomach, and did NUP take him for counselling?” Kagabo inquired.
Kazibwe Bashir Mbazira, MP for Kawempe South, has weighed in on Mpuuga, revealing that his worry is not out of concern for the MPs but that it exposes his weakness as the Vice Chairman of NUP Buganda Region and threatens his personal interests.
“The departure of the MPs is a big blow to NUP, but especially to Mpuuga, who has Presidential ambitions; his position hangs in the balance and is weakened by the exit of the two MPs,” Kazibwe said.
According to Kazibwe, further defections in the party are predicted, which has frightened Mpuuga, causing him to hold needless press conferences threatening the remaining members.
